JCHUfcCH 


d 


STORIES  FROM 

VIRGIL 

BY  THE 

REV. ALFRED  J  CHURCH  M.A 

AUTHOR  OF  STORIES  FROM  HOMER 


NEW    YORK 
THOMAS  Y.  CROWELL  &C9 

PUBLISHERS 


TO  THE 

HONORED  MEMORY 
OF 

3obn  Coninato 

THIS  BOOK  IS  DEDICATED. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  PAOK 

I.  THE  HORSE  OF  WOOD 1 

II.  THE  SACK  OF  TROY 8 

III.  ^ENEAS  AND  ANCHISES 16 

IV.  POLYDORUS— DELOS— CRETE— THE  HARPIES.  .  23 
V.  KINO  HELENUS— THE  CYCLOPS 31 

VI.  THE  SHIPWRECK 42 

VII.  CARTHAGE 47 

VIII.  DIDO  55 

IX.  THE  LOVE  AND  DEATH  OF  DIDO 63 

X.  THE  FUNERAL,  GAMES  OF  ANCHISES 77 

XI.  THE  FUNERAL  GAMES  (CONTINUED) 86 

XII.  THE  BURNING  OF  THE  SHIPS— THE  VOYAGE 

TO  ITALY  92 

XIII.  THE  SIBYL 99 

XIV.  THE  DWELLINGS  OF  THE  DEAD 105 

XV.  KING  LATIMUS 119 

v 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  PAGK 

XVI.  THE  WRATH  OF  JUNO 127 

XVII.  THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  CHIEFS 134 

XVIII.  KING  EVANDER 139 

XIX.  THE  ARMS  OF  ^NEAS 145 

XX.   NlSUS  AND  EURYALUS 152 

XXI.  THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  CAMP 161 

XXII.  THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  SHORE 168 

XXIII.  THE  COUNCIL 181 

XXIV.  THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  CITY 188 

XXV.  THE  BROKEN  TREATY 196 

XXVI.  THE  DEATH  OF  TURNUS.  . .  .202 


STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE   HORSE   OF   WOOD. 

FOR  ten  years  King  Agamemnon  and  the  men 
of  Greece  laid  siege  to  Troy.  But  though  sen- 
tence had  gone  forth  against  the  city,  yet  the  day 
of  its  fall  tarried,  because  certain  of  the  gods 
loved  it  well  and  defended  it,  as  Apollo,  and  Mars, 
the  god  of  war,  and  Father  Jupiter  himself. 
Wherefore  Minerva  put  it  into  the  heart  of  Epeius, 
Lord  of  the  Isles,  that  he  should  make  a  cunning 
device  wherewith  to  take  the  city.  Now  the  de- 
vice was  this:  he  made  a  great  Horse  of  wood, 
feigning  it  to  be  a  peace-offering  to  Minerva,  that 
the  Greeks  might  have  a  safe  return  to  their 
homes.  In  the  belly  of  this  there  hid  themselves 
certain  of  the  bravest  of  the  chiefs,  as  Menelaiis, 
and  Ulysses,  and  Thoas  the  ^Etolian,  and  Machaon, 
the  great  physician,  and  Pyrrhus,  son  of  Achilles 
(but  Achilles  himself  was  dead,  slain  by  Paris, 
Apollo  helping,  even  as  he  was  about  to  take  the 

1 


2  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

city),  and  others  also,  and  with  them  Epeius  him- 
self. But  the  rest  of  the  people  made  as  if  they 
had  departed  to  their  homes;  only  they  went  not 
further  than  Tenedos,  which  was  an  island  near 
to  the  coast. 

Great  joy  was  there  in  Troy  when  it  was  noised 
abroad  that  the  men  of  Greece  had  departed.  The 
gates  were  opened,  and  the  people  went  forth  to 
see  the  plain  and  the  camp.  And  one  said  to  an- 
other, as  they  went,  "  Here  they  set  the  battle  in 
array,  and  there  were  the  tents  of  the  fierce? 
Achilles,  and  there  lay  the  ships."  And  some  stood 
and  marvelled  at  the  great  peace-offering  to 
Minerva,  even  the  Horse  of  wood.  And  Thymoe- 
tes,  who  was  one  of  the  elders  of  the  city,  was 
the  first  who  advised  that  it  should  be  brought 
within  the  walls  and  set  in  the  citadel.  Now 
whether  he  gave  this  counsel  out  of  a  false  heart, 
or  because  the  Gods  would  have  it  so,  no  man 
knows.  But  Capys,  and  others  with  him,  said 
that  it  should  be  drowned  in  water,  or  burned  with 
fire,  or  that  men  should  pierce  it  and  see  whether 
there  were  aught  within.  And  the  people  were 
divided,  some  crying  one  thing  and  some  another. 
Then  came  forward  the  priest  Laocoon,  and  a 
great  company  with  him,  crying,  "  What  madness 
is  this  ?  Think  ye  that  the  men  of  Greece  are  in- 
deed departed,  or  that  there  is  any  profit  in  their 
gifts?  Surely,  there  are  armed  men  in  this 
mighty  Horse;  or  haply  they  have  made  it  that 
they  may  look  down  upo.  our  walls.  Touch  it 


THE   HORSE   OF  WOOD.  3 

not,  for  as  for  these  men  of  Greece,  I  fear  them, 
even  though  they  bring  gifts  in  their  hands." 

And  as  he  spake  he  cast  his  great  spear  at  the 
Horse,  so  that  it  sounded  again.  But  the  Gods 
would  not  that  Troy  should  be  saved. 

Meanwhile  there  came  certain  shepherds  drag- 
ging with  them  one  whose  hands  were  bound  be- 
hind his  back.  He  had  come  forth  to  them,  they 
said,  of  his  own  accord,  when  they  were  in  the 
field.  And  first  the  young  men  gathered  about 
him  mocking  him,  but  when  he  cried  aloud, 
"  What  place  is  left  for  me,  for  the  Greeks  suffer 
me  not  to  live,  and  the  men  of  Troy  cry  for  venge- 
ance upon  me  ?  "  they  rather  pitied  him,  and  bade 
him  speak,  and  say  whence  he  came  and  what  ho 
had  to  tell. 

Then  the  man  spake,  turning  to  King  Priam: 
"  I  will  speak  the  truth,  whatever  befall  me.  My 
name  is  Sinon,  and  I  deny  not  that  I  am  a  Greek. 
Haply  thou  hast  heard  the  name  of  Palamedes, 
whom  the  Greeks  slew,  but  now,  being  dead,  la- 
ment; and  the  cause  was  that,  because  he  coun- 
selled peace,  men  falsely  accused  him  of  treason. 
Now,  of  this  Palamedes  I  was  a  poor  kinsman,  and 
followed  him  to  Troy.  And  when  he  was  dead, 
through  the  false  witness  of  Ulysses,  I  lived  in 
great  grief  and  trouble,  nor  could  I  hold  my  peace, 
but  sware  that  if  ever  I  came  back  to  Argos  I 
would  avenge  me  of  him  that  had  done  this  deed. 
Then  did  Ulysses  seek  occasion  against  me,  whis- 
pering evil  things,  nor  rested  till  at  the  last,  Cal- 


4:  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

chas  the  soothsayer  helping  him — but  what  profit 
it  that  I  should  tell  these  things?  For  doubtless 
ye  hold  one  Greek  to  be  even  as  another.  Where- 
fore slay  me,  and  doubtless  ye  will  do  a  pleasure 
to  Ulysses  and  the  sons  of  Atreus." 

Then  they  bade  him  tell  on,  and  he  said, — 
"  Often  would  the  Greeks  have  fled  to  their 
homes,  being  weary  of  the  war,  but  still  the 
stormy  sea  hindered  them1.  And  when  this  Horse 
that  ye  see  had  been  built,  most  of  all  did  the 
dreadful  thunder  roll  from  the  one  end  of  the 
heaven  to  the  other.  Then  the  Greeks  sent  one 
who  should  inquire  of  Apollo;  and  Apollo  an- 
swered them  thus :  '  Men  of  Greece,  even  as  ye 
appeased  the  winds  with  blood  when  ye  came  to 
Troy,  so  must  ye  appease  them  with  blood  now 
that  ye  would  go  from  thence.'  Then  did  men 
tremble  to  think  on  whom  the  doom  should  fall, 
and  Ulysses,  with  much  clamour,  drew  forth 
Calchas  the  soothsayer  into  the  midst,  and  bade 
him  say  who  it  was  that  the  Gods  would  have  as 
a  sacrifice.  Then  did  many  forebode  evil  for  me. 
Ten  days  did  the  soothsayer  keep  silence,  saying 
that  he  would  not  give  any  man  to  death.  But 
then,  for  in  truth  the  two  had  planned  the  mat- 
ter beforehand,  he  spake,  appointing  me  to  die. 
And  to  this  thing  they  all  agreed,  each  being 
glad  to  turn  to  another  that  which  he  feared  for 
himself.  But  when  the  day  was  come,  and  all 
things  were  ready,  the  salted  meal  for  the  sacrifice 
and  the  garlands,  lo !  I  burst  my  bonds  and  fled, 


T&E  HORSE  OF  WOOD.  5 

and  hid  myself  in  the  sedges  of  a  pool,  waiting  till 
they  should  have  set  sail,  if  haply  that  might  be. 
But  never  shall  I  see  country,  or  father,  or  chil- 
dren again.  For  doubtless  on  these  will  they 
take  vengeance  for  my  flight.  Only  do  thou,  0 
king,  have  pity  on  me,  who  have  suffered  many 
things,  not  having  harmed  any  man.'* 

And  King  Priam  had  pity  on  him,  and  bade 
them  loose  his  bonds,  saying,  "  Whoever  thou  art, 
forget  now  thy  country.  Henceforth  thou  art 
one  of  us.  But  tell  me  true:  why  made  they  this 
huge  Horse?  Who  contrived  it?  What  seek 
they  by  it?  to  please  the  Gods  or  to  further  their 
siege  ?  " 

Then  said  Sinon,  and  as  he  spake  he  stretched 
his  hands  to  the  sky,  "I  call  you  to  witness,  ye 
everlasting  fires  of  heaven,  that  with  good  right  I 
now  break  my  oath  of  fealty  and  reveal  the  secrets 
our  hope  has  ever  been  in  the  help  of  Minerva, 
of  my  countrymen.  Listen  then,  0  king.  All 
But,  from  the  day  when  Diomed  and  Ulysses 
dared,  having  bloody  hands,  to  snatch  her  image 
from  her  holy  place  in  Troy,  her  face  was  turned 
from  us.  Well  do  I  remember  how  the  eyes  of 
the  image,  well-nigh  before  they  had  set  it  in  the 
camp,  blazed  with  wrath,  and  how  the  salt  sweat 
stood  upon  its  limbs,  33-6,  and  how  it  thrice  leapt 
from  the  ground,  shaking  shield  and  spear.  Then 
Calchas  told  us  that  we  must  cross  the  seas  again, 
and  seek  at  home  fresh  omens  for  our  war.  And 
this,  indeed,  they  are  doing  even  now,  and  will  re- 


6  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

turn  anon.  Also  the  soothsayer  said,  '  Mean- 
while ye  must  make  the  likeness  of  a  Horse,  to  be 
a  peace-offering  to  Minerva.  And  take  heed  that 
ye  make  it  huge  of  bulk,  so  that  the  men  of  Troy 
may  not  receive  it  into  their  gates,  nor  bring  it 
within  their  walls,  and  get  safety  for  themselves 
thereby.  For  if,'  he  said,  '  the  men  of  Troy  harm 
this  image  at  all,  they  shall  surely  perish;  but  if 
they  bring  it  into  their  city,  then  shall  Asia  lay 
siege  hereafter  to  the  city  of  Pelops,  and  our  chil- 
dren shall  suffer  the  doom  which  we  would  fain 
have  brought  on  Troy.' ': 

These  words  wrought  much  on  the  men  of 
Troy,  and  as  they  pondered  on  them,  lo !  the  Gods 
sent  another  marvel  to  deceive  them.  For  while 
Laocoon,  the  priest  of  Neptune,  was  slaying  a 
bull  at  the  altar  of  his  god,  there  came  two  ser- 
pents across  the  sea  from  Tenedos,  whose  heads 
and  necks,  whereon  were  thick  manes  of  hair,  were 
high  above  the  waves,  and  many  scaly  coils  trailed 
behind  in  the  waters.  And  when  they  reached  the 
land  they  still  sped  forward.  Their  eyes  were 
red  as  blood  and  blazed  with  fire,  and  their  forked 
tongues  hissed  loud  for  rage.  Then  all  the  men 
of  Troy  grew  pale  with  fear  and  fled  away,  but 
these  turned  not  aside  this  way  or  that,  seeking 
Laocoon  where  he  stood.  And  first  they  wrapped 
themselves  about  his  little  sons,  one  serpent  about 
each,  and  began  to  devour  them.  And  when  the 
father  would  have  given  help  to  his  children,  hav- 
ing a  sword  in  his  hand,  they  seized  upon  himself, 


LAOCOON,  WITH  SONS. 
Miiseo.      Vatican,  Rome. 


THE   HORSE   OF  WOOD.  7 

and  bound  him  fast  with  their  folds.  Twice  they 
compassed  him  about  his  bod}',  and  twice  his 
neck,  lifting  their  heads  far  above  him.  And  all 
the  while  he  strove  to  tear  them  away  with'  his 
hands,  his  priest's  garlands  dripping  with  blood. 
Xor  did  he  cease  to  cry  horribly  aloud,  even  as  a 
bull  bellows  when  after  an  ill  stroke  of  the  axe 
it  flees  from  the  altar.  But  when  their  work  was 
done,  the  two  glided  to  the  citadel  of  Minerva,  and 
hid  themselves  beneath  the  feet  and  the  shield  of 
the  goddess.  And  men  said  one  to  another,  "  Lo ! 
the  priest  Laocob'n  has  been  judged  according  to 
his  deeds;  for  he  cast  his  spear  against  this  holy 
thing,  and  now  the  Gods  have  slain  him."  Then 
all  cried  out  together  that  the  Horse  of  wood  must 
be  drawn  to  the  citadel.  Whereupon  they  opened 
the  Scaean  Gate,  and  pulled  down  the  wall  that 
was  thereby,  and  put  rollers  under  the  feet  of  the 
Horse,  and  joined  ropes  thereto.  So,  in  much  joy, 
they  drew  it  into  the  city,  youths  and  maidens 
singing  about  it  the  while,  and  laying  their  hands 
to  the  ropes  with  great  gladness.  And  yet  there 
wanted  not  signs  and  tokens  of  evil  to  come. 
Four  times  it  halted  on  the  threshold  of  the  gate, 
and  men  might  have  heard  a  clashing  of  arms 
within.  Cassandra  also  opened  her  mouth, 
prophesying  evil :  but  no  man  heeded  her,  for  that 
was  ever  the  doom  upon  her,  not  to  be  believed 
speaking  truth.  So  the  men  of  Troy  drew  the 
Horse  into  the  city.  And  that  night  they  kept  a 
feast  to  all  the  Gods  with  great  joy,  not  knowing 
that  the  last  day  of  the  great  city  had  come. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  SACK  OF  TROY. 

BUT  when  night  was  now  fully  come,  and  the 
men  of  Troy  lay  asleep,  lo !  from  the  ship  of  King 
Agamemnon  there  rose  up  a  flame  for  a  signal 
to  the  Greeks ;  and  these  straightway  manned  their 
ships,  and  made  across  the  sea  from  Tenedos,  there 
being  a  great  calm,  and  the  moon  also  giving  them 
light.  Sinon  likewise  opened  a  secret  door  that 
was  in  the  great  Horse,  and  the  chiefs  issued  forth 
therefrom,  and  opened  the  gates  of  the  city,  slay- 
ing those  that  kept  watch. 

Meanwhile  there  came  a  vision  to  ^Eneas,  who 
now,  Hector  being  dead,  was  the  chief  hope  and 
stay  of  the  men  of  Troy.  It  was  Hector's  self 
that  he  seemed  to  see,  but  not  such  as  he  had  seen 
him  coming  back  rejoicing  with  the  arms  of 
Achilles,  or  setting  fire  to  the  ships,  but  even  as 
he  lay  after  that  Achilles  dragged  him  at  his 
chariot  wheels,  covered  with  dust  and  blood,  his 
feet  swollen  and  pierced  through  with  thongs.  To 
him  said  ^Eneas,  not  knowing  what  he  said,  "  Why 
hast  thou  tarried  so  long  ?  Much  have  we  suffered 
waiting  for  thee !  And  what  grief  hath  marked 
thy  face  ?  and  whence  these  wounds  ?  " 
B 


THE  SACK  OF  TROY.  9 

But  to  this  the  spirit  answered  nothing,  but 
said,  groaning  the  while,  "  Fly,  son  of  Venus,  fly, 
and  save  thee  from  these  flames.  The  enemy  is 
in  the  walls,  and  Troy  hath  utterly  perished.  If 
any  hand  could  have  saved  our  city,  this  hand  had 
done  so.  Thou  art  now  the  hope  of  Troy.  Take 
then  her  Gods,  and  flee  with  them  for  company, 
seeking  the  city  that  thouj  shalt  one  day  build 
across  the  sea." 

And  now  the  alarm  of  battle  came  nearer  and 
nearer,  and  J^neas,  waking  from  sleep,  climbed 
upon  the  roof,  and  looked  on  the  city.  As  a  shep- 
herd stands,  and  sees  a  fierce  flame  sweeping  be- 
fore the  south  wind  over  the  corn-fields  or  a  flood 
rushing  down  from  the  mountains,  so  he  stood. 
And  as  he  looked,  the  great  palace  of  Deiphobus 
sank  down  in  the  fire,  and  the  house  of  Ucalegon, 
that  was  hard  by,  blazed  forth,  till  the  sea  by 
Sigeiim  shone  with  the  light.  Then,  scarce  know- 
ing what  he  sought,  he  girded  on  his  armour, 
thinking,  perchance,  that  he  might  yet  win  some 
place  of  vantage,  or,  at  the  least,  might  avenge 
himself  on  the  enemy,  or  find  honour  in  his  death. 
But  as  he  passed  from  out  of  his  house  there  met 
him  Panthus,  the  priest  of  Apollo  that  was  on 
the  citadel,  who  cried  to  him,  "  0  ^neas,  the  glory 
is  departed  from  Troy,  and  the  Greeks  have  the 
mastery  in  the  city;  for  armed  men  are  coming 
forth  from  the  great  Horse  of  wood,  and  thou- 
sands also  swarm  in  at  the  gates,  which  Sinon 
hath  treacherously  opened."  And  as  he  spake 


10  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

others  came  up  under  the  light  of  the  moon,  as 
Hypanis,  and  Dymas,  and  young  Coroebus,  who 
had  but  newly  come  to  Troy,  seeking  Cassandra 
to  be  his  wife.  To  whom  ^Eneas  spake :  "  If  ye 
are  minded,  my  brethren,  to  follow  me  to  the 
death,  come  on.  For  how  things  fare  this  night 
ye  see.  The  Gods  who  were  the  stay  of  this  city 
have  departed  from  it;  nor  is  aught  remaining  to 
which  we  may  bring  succour.  Yet  can  we  die  as 
brave  men  in  battle.  And  haply  he  that  counts  his 
life  to  be  lost  may  yet  save  it."  Then,  even  as 
ravening  wolves  hasten  through  the  mist  seeking 
for  prey,  so  they  went  through  the  city,  doing 
dreadful  deeds.  And  for  a  while  the  men  of 
Greece  fled  before  them. 

First  of  all  there  met  them  Androgeos  with  a 
great  company  following  him,  who,  thinking 
them  to  be  friends,  said,  "  Haste,  comrades,  why 
are  ye  so  late  ?  We  are  spoiling  this  city  of  Troy, 
and  ye  are  but  newly  come  from  the  ships."  But 
forthwith,  for  they  answered  him  not  as  he  had 
looked  for,  he  knew  that  he  had  fallen  amon^ 
enemies.  Then  even  as  one  who  treads  upon  a 
snake  unawares  among  thorns,  and  flies  from  it 
when  it  rises  angrily  against  him  with  swelling 
neck,  so  Androgeos  would  have  fled.  But  the 
men  of  Troy  rushed  on,  and,  seeing  that  they 
knew  all  the  place,  and  that  great  fear  was  upon 
the  Greeks,  slew  many  men.  Then  said  Corcebus, 
"  We  have  good  luck  in  this  matter,  my  friends. 
Come  now,  let  us  change  our  shields,  and  put 


THE   SACK  OF  TROY.  11 

upon  us  the  armour  of  these  Greeks.  For  whether 
we  deal  with  our  enemy  by  craft  or  by  force,  who 
will  ask  ?  "  Then  he  took  to  himself  the  helmet 
and  shield  of  Androgeos,  and  also  girded  the 
sword  upon  him.  In  like  manner  did  the  others, 
and  thus  going  disguised  among  the  Greeks  slew 
many,  so  that  some  again  fled  to  the  ships  and 
some  were  fain  to  climb  into  the  Horse  of  wood. 
But  lo !  men  came  dragging  by  the  hair  from  the 
temple  of  Minerva  the  virgin  Cassandra,  whom 
when  Corcebus  beheld,  and  how  she  lifted  up  her 
eyes  to  heaven  (but  as  for  her  hands,  they  were 
bound  with  iron),  he  endured  not  the  sight,  but 
threw  himself  upon  those  that  dragged  her,  the 
others  following  him.  Then  did  a  grievous  mis- 
chance befall  them,  for  the  men  of  Troy  that  stood 
upon  the  roof  of  the  temple  cast  spears  against 
them,  judging  them  to  be  enemies.  The  Greeks 
also,  being  wroth  that  the  virgin  should  be  taken 
from  them,  fought  the  more  fiercely,  and  many 
who  had  before  been  put  to  flight  in  the  city  came 
against  them,  and  prevailed,  being  indeed  many 
against  few.  Then  first  of  all  fell  Coroebus,  being 
slain  by  Peneleus  the  Boeotian,  and  Rhipeus  also, 
the  most  righteous  of  all  the  sons  of  Troy.  But 
the  Gods  dealt  not  with  him  after  his  righteous- 
ness. Hypanis  also  was  slain  and  Dymas,  and 
Pan  thus  escaped  not  for  all  that  more  than  other 
men  he  feared  the  Gods  and  was  also  the  priest  of 
Apollo. 

Then  was  ^Eneas  severed  from  the  rest,  having 


12  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

with  him;  two  only,  Iphitus  and  Pelias,  Iphitus 
being  an  old  man  and  Pelias  sorely  wounded  by 
Ulysses.  And  these,  hearing  a  great  shouting, 
hastened  to  the  palace  of  King  Priam,  where  the 
battle  was  fiercer  than  in  any  place  beside.  For 
some  of  the  Greeks  were  seeking  to  climb  the 
walls,  laying  ladders  thereto,  whereon  they  stood, 
holding  forth  their  shields  with  their  left  hands, 
and  with  their  right  grasping  the  roofs.  And 
the  men  of  Troy,  on  the  other  hand,  being  in  the 
last  extremity,  tore  down  the  battlements  and  the 
gilded  beams  wherewith  the  men  of  old  had 
adorned  the  palace.  Then  ./Eneas,  knowing  of  a 
secret  door  whereby  the  unhappy  Andromache  in 
past  days  had  been  wont  to  enter,  bringing  her  son 
Astyanax  to  his  grandfather,  climbed  on  to  the 
roof,  and  joined  himself  to  those  that  fought 
therefrom.  Now  upon  this  roof  there  was  a 
tower,  whence  all  Troy  could  be  seen  and  the 
camp  of  the  Greeks  and  the  ships.  This  the  men 
of  Troy  loosened  from  its  foundations  with  bars 
of  iron,  and  thrust  it  over,  so  that  it  fell  upon 
the  enemy,  slaying  many  of  them.  But  not  the 
less  did  others  press  forward,  casting  the  while 
stones  and  javelins  and  all  that  came  to  their 
hands. 

Meanwhile  others  sought  to  break  down  the 
gates  of  the  palace,  Pyrrhus,  son  of  Achilles, 
being  foremost  among  them,  clad  in  shining  ar- 
mour of  bronze.  Like  to  a  serpent  was  he,  which 
sleeps  indeed  during  the  winter,  but  in  the 


THE  SACK  OF  TROY.  13 

spring  comes  forth  into  the  light,  full  fed  on  evil 
herbs,  and,  having  cast  his  skin  and  renewed  his 
youth,  lifts  his  head  into  the  light  of  the  sun  and 
hisses  with  forked  tongue.  And  with  Pyrrhus 
were  tall  Periphas,  and  Automedon,  who  had  been 
armour-bearer  to  his  father  Achilles,  and  follow- 
ing them  the  youth  of  Scyros,  which  was  the 
kingdom  of  his  grandfather  Lycomedes.  With  a 
great  battle-axe  he  hewed  through  the  doors, 
breaking  down  also  the  door-posts,  though  they 
were  plated  with  bronze,  making,  as  it  were,  a 
great  window,  through  which  a  man  might  see  the 
palace  within,  the  hall  of  King  Priam  and  of  the 
kings  who  had  reigned  aforetime  in  Troy.  But 
when  they  that  were  within  perceived  it,  there 
arose  a  great  cry  of  women  wailing  aloud  and 
clinging  to  the  doors  and  kissing  them.  But  ever 
Pyrrhus  pressed  on,  fierce  and  strong  as  ever  was 
his  father  Achilles,  nor  could  aught  stand  against 
him,  either  the  doors  or  they  that  guarded  them. 
Then,  as  a  river  bursts  its  banks  and  overflows  the 
plain,  so  did  the  sons  of  Greece  rush  into  the 
palace. 

But  old  Priam,  when  he  saw  the  enemy  in  his 
hall,  girded  on  him  his  armour,  which  now  by 
reason  of  old  age  he  had  long  laid  aside,  and  took 
a  spear  in  his  hand,  and  would  have  gone  against 
the  adversary,  only  Queen  Hecuba  called  to  him 
from  where  she  sat.  For  she  and  her  daughters 
had  fled  to  the  great  altar  of  the  household  gods, 
and  sat  crowded  about  it  like  unto  doves  that  are 


14  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

driven  by  a  storm.  Xu\v  the  altar  stood  in  an 
open  court  that  was  in  the  midst  of  the  palace, 
with  a  great  bay-tree  above  it.  So  when  she  saw 
Priam,  how  he  had  girded  himself  with  armour  as 
a  youth,  she  cried  to  him  and  said,  "  What  hath 
bewitched  thee,  that  thou  girdest  thyself  with 
armour?  It  is  not  the  sword  that  shall  help  us 
this  day;  no,  not  though  my  own  Hector  were 
here,  but  rather  the  Gods  and  their  altars.  Come 
hither  to  us,  for  here  thou  wilt  be  safe,  or  at  the 
least  wilt  die  with  us." 

So  she  made  the  old  man  sit  down  in  the  midst. 
But  lo !  there  came  flying  through  the  palace, 
Polites,  his  son,  wounded  to  death  by  the  spear 
of  Pyrrhus,  and  Pyrrhus  close  behind  him.  And 
he,  even  as  he  came  into  the  sight  of  his  father 
and  his  mother,  fell  dead  upon  the  ground.  But 
when  King  Priam  saw  it  he  contained  not  him- 
self, but  cried  aloud,  "  Xow  may  the  gods,  if  there 
be  any  justice  in  heaven,  recompense  thee  for  this 
wickedness,  seeing  that  thou  hast  not  spared  to 
slay  the  son  before  his  father's  eyes.  Great 
Achilles,  whom  thou  falsely  callest  thy  sire,  did 
not  thus  to  Priam,  though  he  was  an  enemy,  but 
reverenced  right  and  truth,  and  gave  the  body  of 
Hector  for  burial,  and  sent  me  back  to  my  city." 

And  as  he  spake  the  old  man  cast  a  spear, 
but  aimless  and  without  force,  and  that  pierced 
not  even  the  boss  of  the  shield.  Then  said  the 
son  of  Achilles,  "  Go  thou  and  tell  my  father  of 
his  unworthy  son  and  all  these  evils  deeds.  And 


THE  SACK   OF  TROY.  15 

that  thou  mayest  tell  him  die ! "  And  as  he 
spake  he  caught  in  his  left  hand  the  old  man's 
white  hair,  and  dragged  him,  slipping  the  while 
in  the  blood  of  his  own  son,  to  the  altar,  and  then, 
lifting  his  sword  high  for  a  blow,  drave  it  to  the 
hilt  in  the  old  man's  side.  So  King  Priam,  who 
had  ruled  mightily  over  many  peoples  and  coun- 
tries in  the  land  of  Asia,  was  slain  that  night, 
having  first  seen  Troy  burning  about  him,  and 
his  citadel  laid  even  with  the  ground.  So  was 
his  carcass  cast  out  upon  the  earth,  headless,  and 
without  a  name. 


CHAPTEK  III. 

JEXEA.S   AND   ANCHISES. 

ALL  these  things,  indeed,  ^Eneas  beheld,  but 
could  not  bear  help,  being  one  against  many. 
But  when  the  deed  was  done,  and  the  old  man  lay 
dead,  he  bethought  him  of  his  father  Anchises, 
and  his  wife  Creiisa,  and  of  his  little  son  Ascanius, 
and  how  he  had  left  them  without  defence  at 
home.  But  as  he  turned  to  seek  them,  the  night 
being  now,  by  reason  of  many  fires,  as  clear  as  the 
day,  he  espied  Helen  sitting  in  the  temple  of 
Vesta,  where  she  had  sought  sanctuary;  for  she 
feared  the  men  of  Troy,  to  whom  she  had  brought 
ruin  and  destruction,  and  not  less  her  own  hus- 
band, whom  she  had  deceived.  Then  was  his 
wrath  kindled,  and  he  spake  to  himself,  "  Shall 
this  evil  woman  return  safe  to  Sparta  ?  Shall  she 
see  again  her  home  and  her  children,  with  Tro- 
jan women  forsooth  to  be  her  handmaidens? 
Shall  Troy  be  burnt  and  King  Priam  be  slain, 
and  she  take  no  harm?  Not  so;  for  though  there 
be  no  glory  to  be  won  from  such  a  deed,  yet  shall 
I  satisfy  myself,  taking  vengeance  upon  her  for 
my  kinsmen  and  my  countrymen."  But  while 
he  thought  these  things  in  his  heart,  lo !  there  ap- 
16 


JENEAS  AND  ANCHISES.  17 

peared  unto  him  Venus,  his  mother,  made  mani- 
fest as  he  had  never  seen  her  before,  as  fair  and 
as  tall  as  the  dwellers  in  heaven  behold  her.  Then 
Venus  spake  thus,  "  What  meaneth  all  this  rage, 
my  son  ?  Hast  thou  no  care  for  me  ?  Hast  thou 
forgotten  thy  father  Anchises,  and  thy  wife,  and 
thy  little  son  ?  Of  a  surety  the  fire  and  the  sword 
had  consumed  them  long  since  but  that  I  cared  for 
them  and  saved  them.  It  is  not  Helen;  no,  nor 
Paris,  that  hath  laid  low  this  great  city  of  Troy, 
but  the  wrath  of  the  Gods.  See  now,  for  I  will 
take  away  the  mist  that  covers  thine  eyes ;  see  how 
Neptune  with  his  trident  is  overthrowing  the 
walls  and  rooting  up  the  city  from  its  founda^ 
tions ;  and  how  Juno  stands  with  spear  and  shield 
in  the  Scasan  Gate,  and  calls  fresh  hosts  from  the 
ships;  and  how  Pallas  sits  on  the  height  with  the 
storm-cloud  about  her  and  her  Gorgon  shield ;  and 
how  Father  Jupiter  himself  stirs  up  the  enemy 
against  Troy.  Fly,  therefore,  my  son.  I  will 
not  leave  thee  till  thou  shalt  reach  thy  father's 
house."  And  as  she  spake  she  vanished  in  the 
darkness. 

Then  did  ^Eneas  see  dreadful  forms  and  Gods 
who  were  the  enemies  of  Troy,  and  before  his  eyes 
the  whole  city  seemed  to  sink  down  into  the  fire. 
Even  as  a  mountain  oak  upon  the  hills  on  which 
the  woodmen  ply  their  axes  bows  its  head  while 
all  its  boughs  shake  about  it,  till  at  last,  as  blow 
comes  after  blow,  with  a  mighty  groan  it  falls 
crashing  down  from  the  height,  even  so  the  city 


18  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

seemed  to  fall.  Then  did  ^Eneas  pass  on  his  way, 
the  goddess  leading  him,  and  the  flames  gave  place 
to  him,  and  the  javelins  harmed  him  not. 

But  when  he  was  come  to  his  house  he  be- 
thought him  first  of  the  old  man  his  father;  but 
when  he  would  have  carried  him  to  the  hill?, 
Anchises  would  not,  being  loath  to  live  in  some 
strange  country  when  Troy  had  perished.  "  Xay," 
said  he,  "  fly  ye  who  are  strong  and  in  the  flower 
of  your  days.  But  as  for  me,  if  the  Gods  had 
willed  that  I  should  live,  they  had  saved  this 
dwelling  for  me.  Enough  it  is,  yea,  and  more 
than  enough,  that  once  I  have  seen  this  city  taken, 
and  lived.  Bid  me,  then,  farewell  as  though  I 
were  dead.  Death  will  I  find  for  myself.  And 
truly  I  have  long  lingered  here  a  useless  stock 
and  hated  of  the  Gods  since  Jupiter  smote  me  with 
the  blast  of  his  thunder." 

Nor  could  the  old  man  be  moved  from  his  pur- 
pose, though  his  son  and  his  son's  wife,  and  even 
the  child  Ascanius,  besought  him  with  many  tears 
that  lie  should  not  make  yet  heavier  the  doom  that 
was  upon  them.  Then  was  ^Eneas  minded  to  go 
back  to  the  battle  and  die.  For  what  hope  was 
left?  "Thoughtest  thou,  my  father,"  he  cried, 
"  that  I  should  flee  and  leave  thee  behind  ?  What 
evil  word  is  this  that  has  fallen  from  thy  lips? 
If  the  Gods  will  have  it  that  nought  of  Troy 
should  be  left,  and  thou  be  minded  that  thou  and 
thine  should  perish  with  the  city,  be  it  so.  The 
way  is  easy;  soon  will  Pyrrhus  be  here;  Pyrrhus, 


JENEAS  AND   ANCHISES.  19 

red  with  Priam's  blood ;  Pyrrhus,  who  slays  the  son 
before  the  face  of  the  father,  and  the  father  at  the 
altar.  Was  it  for  this,  kind  Mother  Venus,  that 
thou  broughtest  me  safe  through  fire  and  sword, 
to  see  the  enemy  in  my  home,  and  my  father  and 
my  wife  and  my  son  lying  slaughtered  together? 
Comrades,  give  me  my  arms,  and  take  me  back 
to  the  battle.  At  the  least  I  will  die  avenged." 

But  as  he  girded  on  his  arms  and  would  have 
departed  from  the  house,  his  wife  Creiisa  caught 
his  feet  upon  the  threshold,  staying  him,  and  held 
out  the  little  Ascanius,  saying,  "  If  thou  goest  to 
thy  death,  take  wife  and  child  with  thee;  but  if 
thou  hopest  aught  from  arms,  guard  first  the 
house  where  thou  hast  father  and  wife  and  child." 

And  lo!  as  she  spake  there  befell  a  mighty 
marvel,  for  before  the  face  of  father  and  mother 
there  was  seen  to  shine  a  light  on  the  head  of  the 
boy  Ascanius,  and  to  play  upon  his  waving  hair 
and  glitter  on  his  temples.  And  when  they  feared 
to  see  this  thing,  and  would  have  stifled  the  flame 
or  quenched  it  with  water,  the  old  man  Anchises  in 
great  joy  raised  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and  cried 
aloud,  "  0  Father  Jupiter,  if  prayer  move  thee  at 
all,  give  thine  aid  and  make  this  omen  sure."  And 
even  as  he  spake  the  thunder  rolled  on  his  left 
hand,  and  a  star  shot  through  the  skies,  leaving 
a  long  trail  of  light  behind,  and  passed  over  the 
house-tops  till  it  was  hidden  in  the  woods  of  Ida. 

Then  the  old  man  lifted  himself  up  and  did 
obeisance  to  the  star,  and  said,  "  I  delay  no  more: 


20  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

whithersoever  yc  lead  I  will  follow.  Gods  of  my 
country,  save  my  house  and  my  grandson.  This 
omen  is  of  you.  And  now,  my  son,  I  refuse  not 
to  go." 

Then  said  ^Eneas,  and  as  he  spake  the  fire  came 
nearer,  and  the  light  was  clearer  to  see,  and  the 
heat  more  fierce,  "  Climb,  dear  father,  on  my 
shoulders;  I  will  bear  thee,  nor  grow  weary  with 
the  weight.  We  will  be  saved  or  perish  together. 
The  little  Ascanius  shall  go  with  me,  and  my  wife 
follow  behind,  not  over  near.  And  ye,  servants 
of  my  house,  hearken  to  me;  yc  mind  how  that  to 
one  who  passes  out  of  the  city  there  is  a  tomb  and 
a  temple  of  Ceres  in  a  lonely  place,  and  an  ancient 
cypress-tree  hard  by.  There  will  we  gather  by 
divers  ways.  And  do  thou,  my  father,  take  the 
holy  images  in  thy  hands,  for  as  for  me,  who  have 
but  newly  come  from  battle,  I  may  not  touch  them 
till  I  have  washed  me  in  the  running  stream." 

And  as  he  spake  he  put  a  cloak  of  lion's  skin 
upon  his  shoulders,  and  the  old  man  sat  thereon. 
Ascanius  also  laid  hold  of  his  hand,  and  Creiisa 
followed  behind.  So  he  went  in  much  dread  and 
trembling.  For  indeed  before  sword  and  spear 
of  the  enemy  he  had  not  feared,  but  now  he  feared 
for  them  that  were  with  him.  But  when  he  was 
come  nigh  unto  the  gates,  and  the  journey  was 
well-nigh  finished,  there  befell  a  grievous  mis- 
chance, for  there  was  heard  a  sound  as  of  many 
feet  through  the  darkness;  and  the  old  man  cried 
to  him,  "  Fly,  my  son,  fly ;  they  are  coming.  I 


JENEAS  AND  ANCHISES.  21 

see  the 'flashing  of  shields  and  swords."  But  as 
^Eneas  hasted  to  go,  Creiisa  his  wife  was  severed 
from  him.  But  whether  she  wandered  from  the 
way  or  sat  down  in  weariness,  no  man  may  say. 
Only  he  saw  her  no  more,  nor  knew  her  to  be  lost 
till,  all  his  company  being  met  at  the  temple  of 
Ceres,  she  only  was  found  wanting.  Very  griev- 
ous did  the  thing  seem  to  him,  nor  did  he  oensr; 
to  cry  out  in  his  wrath  against  Gods  and  men. 
•Also  he  bade  his  comrades  have  a  care  of  his 
father  and  his  son,  and  of  the  household  Gods  and 
girded  him  again  with'  arms,  and  so  passed  into 
the  city.  'And  first  he  went  to  the  wall  and  to 
the  gate  by  which  he  had  come  forth,  and  then 
to  his  house,  if  haply  she  had  returned  thither. 
But  there  indeed  the  men  of  Greece  were  come, 
and  the  fire  had  well-nigh  mastered  it.  And  after 
that  he  went  to  the  citadel  and  to  the  palace  of 
King  Priam,  And  lo !  in  the  porch  of  Juno's  tem- 
ple, Phoenix  and  Ulysses  were  keeping  guard  over 
the  spoil,  even  the  treasure  of  the  temples,  tables 
of  the  Gods,  and  solid  cups  of  gold,  and  raiment, 
and  a  long  array  of  them  that  had  been  taken  cap- 
tive, children  and  women.  But  not  the  less  did 
he  seek  his  wife  through  all  the  streets  of  the  city, 
yea,  and  called  her  aloud  by  name.  But  lo!  as 
he  called,  the  image  of  her  whom  he  sought  seemed 
to  stand  before  him,  only  greater  than  she  had  been 
while  she  was  yet  alive.  And  the  spirit  spake  say- 
ing. "Why  art  thou  vainly  troubled?  These 
things  have  not  befallen  us  against  the  pleasure  of 


22  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

the  Gods.  The  ruler  of  Olympus  willeth  not  that 
Creiisa  shoulud  bear  thee  company  in  thy  journey. 
For  thou  has  a  long  journey  to  take,  and  many 
seas  to  cross,  till  thou  come  to  the  Hesperian 
shore,  where  Lydian  Tiber  flows  softly  through  a 
good  land  and  a  fertile.  There  shalt  thou  have 
great  prosperity,  and  take  to  thyself  a  wife  of 
royal  race.  Weep  not  then  for  Creiisa  whom 
thou  lovest,  nor  think  that  I  shall  be  carried 
away  to  be  a  bond-slave  to  some  Grecian  woman. 
Such  fate  befits  not  a  daughter  of  Dardanus  and 
daughter-in-law  of  Venus.  The  mighty  Mother 
of  the  Gods  keepeth  me  in  this  land  to  serve  her. 
And  now,  farewell,  and  love  the  young  Ascanius, 
even  thy  son  and  mine." 

So  spake  the  spirit,  and,  when  ^Eneas  wept 
and  would  have  spoken,  vanished  out  of  his  sight. 
Thrice  he  would  have  cast  his  arms  about  her 
neck,  and  thrice  the  image  mocked  him,  being 
thin  as  air  and  fleeting  as  a  dream.  Then,  the 
night  being  now  spent,  he  sought  his  comrades, 
and  found  with  much  joy  and  wonder  that  a 
great  company  of  men  and  women  were  gathered 
together,  and  were  willing,  all  of  them,  to  follow 
him  whithersoever  he  went.  And  now  the  morn- 
ing star  rose  over  Mount  Ida,  and  ^Eneas,  seeing 
that  the  Greeks  held  the  city,  and  that  there  was 
no  longer  any  hope  of  succor,  went  his  way  to 
the  mountains,  taking  with  him  his  father. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

POLYDORUS — DELOS — CRETE — THE   HARPIES. 

Now  for  what  remained  of  that  year  (for  it 
was  the  time  of  summer  when  Troy  was  taken), 
.^Eneas,  and  they  that  were  gathered  to  him, 
builded  themselves  ships  for  the  voyage,  dwell- 
ing the  while  under  Mount  Ida;  and  when  the 
summer  was  well-nigh  come  again  the  work  was 
finished,  and  the  old  man  Anchises  commanded 
that  they  should  tarry  no  longer.  Whereupon 
they  sailed,  taking  also  their  gods  with  them. 

There  was  a  certain  land  of  Thrace,  which  the 
god  Mars  loved  beyond  all  other  lands,  whereof 
in  time  past  the  fierce  Lycurgus,  who  would  have 
slain  Bacchus,  was  king.  Here,  therefore,  for  the 
men  of  the  land  were  friendly,  or,  at  the  least, 
had  been  before  evil  days  came  upon  Troy,  ^Eneas 
builded  him  a  city,  and  called  it  after  his  own 
name.  But,  after  awhile,  as  he  did  sacrifice  on 
a  certain  day  to  his  mother,  even  Venus,  that  he 
might  have  a  blessing  on  his  work,  slaying  also 
a  white  bull  to  Jupiter,  there  befell  a  certain  hor- 
rible thing.  For  hard  by  the  place  where  he  did 
sacrifice  there  was  a  little  hill,  with  much  cornel 
and  myrtle  upon  it,  whereto  ^Eneas  coming  wov.ld 

23 


24  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

have  plucked  wands  having  leaves  upon  them, 
that  he  might  cover  therewith  the  altars.  But 
lo !  when  he  plucked  a  wand  there  dropped  drops 
of  blood  therefrom.  Whereupon  great  fear  came 
on  him,  and  wonder  also.  And  when  seeking  to 
know  the  cause  of  the  thing  he  plucked  other 
wands  also,  there  dropped  blood  even  as  before. 
Then,  having  prayed  to  the  nymphs  of  the  land 
and  to  Father  Mars  that  they  would  turn  all  evil 
from  him,  he  essayed  the  third  time  with  all  his 
might,  setting  his  knee  against  the  ground,  to 
pluck  forth  a  wand.  Whereupon  there  issued 
from  the  hill  a  lamentable  voice,  saying,  "  ^Eneas, 
why  doest  thou  me  such  cruel  hurt,  nor  lea  vest 
me  in  peace  in  my  grave?  For  indeed  I  am,  no 
stranger  to  thee,  nor  strange  is  this  blood  which 
thou  seest.  Fly,  for  the  land  is  cruel,  and  the 
shore  greedy  of  gain.  I  am  Polydorus.  Here 
was  I  pierced  through  with  spears,  which  have 
grown  into  these  wands  that  thou  seest." 

But  ^Eneas  when  he  heard  the  voice  was  sore 
dismayed,  and  he  remembered  him  how  King 
Priam,  thinking  that  it  might  fare  ill  with  him 
and  the  great  city  of  Troy,  had  sent  his  son, 
Polydorus,  by  stealth,  and  much  gold  with  him, 
to  Polymestor,  who  was  King  of  Thrace,  and  how 
the  king,  when  Troy  had  now  perished,  slew  the 
boy,  and  took  the  gold  to  himself.  For  of  a  truth 
the  love  of  gold  is  the  root  of  all  evil.  And 
JEneas  told  the  thing  to  his  father  and  to  the 
chiefs;  and  the  sentence  of  all  was  that  they 


POLYDORUS— DELOS — CRETE,  ETC.    25 

should  depart  from  the  evil  land.  But  first  they 
made  a  great  funeral  for  Polydorus,  making 
a  high  mound  of  earth,  and  building  thereon 
an  altar  to  the  dead.  This  also  they  bound 
about  with  garlands  of  sad-colored  wool  and 
cypress,  and  the  women  of  Troy  stood  about  it 
with  their  hair  loosened,  as  is  the  use  of  them 
that  mourn.  They  offered  also  bowls  of  warm 
milk  and  blood,  and  laid  the  spirit  in  the  tomb, 
bidding  him  farewell  three  times  with  a  loud 
voice. 

After  this,  when  the  time  for  voyaging  was 
come,  and  the  south  wind  blew  softly,  they 
launched  the  ships  and  set  sail.  And  first  they 
came  to  the  island  of  Delos,  which,  having  been 
used  to  wander  over  the  sea,  the  Lord  of  the 
Silver  Bow  made  fast,  binding  it  to  Myconos  and 
Gyaros,  and  found  there  quiet  anchorage.  And 
when  they  landed  to  worship,  there  met  them 
Anius,  who  was  priest  and  king  of  the  place, 
having  a  crown  of  bay-leaves  about  his  head,  who 
knew  Anchises  for  a  friend  in  time  past,  and 
used  to  them  nruch  hospitality.  Then  did  they 
pray  to  the  god,  saying,  "  Give  us,  we  beseech 
thee,  a  home  where  we  may  dwell,  and  a  name 
upon  the  earth,  and  a  city  that  shall  abide,  even 
a  second  Troy  for  them  that  have  escaped  from 
the  hands  of  Achilles  and  the  Greeks.  And  do 
thou  answer  us,  and  incline  our  hearts  that  we 
may  know." 

But    when    '.^Eneas    had    ended    these    words, 


26  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

straightway  the  place  was  shaken,  even  the  gates 
of  the  temple  and  the  bay-trees  that  were  hard 
by.  And  when  they  were  all  fallen  to  the  ground 
there  came  a  voice,  saying,  "  Son  of  Dardanus, 
the  land  that  first  bare  you  shall  receive  you 
again.  Seek,  then,  your  ancient  mother.  Thence 
shall  the  children  of  ^Eneas  bear  rule  over  all 
lands,  yea,  and  their  children's  children  to  many 
generations/'  Which  when  they  had  heard,  they 
greatly  rejoiced,  and  would  fain  know  what  was 
the  city  whither  Phoebus  would  have  them  go, 
that  they  might  cease  from  their  wanderings. 
Then  Anchises,  pondering  in  his  heart  the  things 
which  he  had  learnt  from  men  of  old  time,  spake 
thus:  "There  lieth  in  mid-ocean  a  certain  island 
of  Crete  wherein  is  a  mountain,  Ida.  There  was 
the  first  beginning  of  our  nation.  Thence  came 
Teucer,  our  first  father,  to  the  land  of  Troy. 
Let  us  go,  then,  whither  the  Gods  would  send  us, 
first  doing  sacrifice  to  the  Winds;  and,  indeed, 
if  but  Jupiter  help  us,  'tis  but  a  three  days' 
journey  for  our  ships." 

So  they  offered  sacrifice,  a  bull  to  Xeptune 
and  a  bull  to  the  beautiful  Apollo,  and  a  black 
sheep  to  the  Storm  and  a  white  sheep  to  the  West 
Wind.  There  came  also  a  rumor  that  Idome- 
neus  the  Cretan  had  fled  from  his  father's  king- 
dom, and  that  the  land  was  ready  for  him  who 
should  take  it.  Whereupon  the  men  of  Troy  set 
sail  with  a  good  heart,  and  passing  among  the 
that  are  called  Cyclades,  the  wind  blow- 


POLYDORUS— DELOS— CRETE,  ETC.    27 

ing  favorably  behind  them,  so  came  to  Crete. 
There  they  builded  a  city,  and  called  its  name 
Pergamea,  after  Pergama,  which  was  the  citadel 
of  Troy.  And  for  a  while  they  tilled  the  soil; 
also  they  married  and  were  given  in  marriage,  as 
purposing  to  abide  in  the  land.  But  there  came 
a  wasting  sickness  on  the  men,  and  a  blight  also 
on  the  trees  and  harvests,  filling  the  year  with 
death.  The  fields  likewise  were  parched  with 
drought,  and  the  staff  of  bread  was  broken.  Then 
the  old  Anchises  bade  them  go  yet  again  to  the 
oracle  at  Delos,  and  inquire  of  the  god  what  end 
there  should  be  of  these  troubles,  whence  they 
should  seek  for  help,  and  whither  they  should  go. 
But  as  JEneas  slept  there  appeared  to  him  the 
household  gods,  which  he  had  carried  out  of  the 
burning  of  Troy,  very  clear  to  see  in  the  light  of 
the  moon,  which  shone  through  the  window  of 
his  chamber.  And  they  spake  unto  him,  saying, 
"  Apollo  bids  us  tell  thee  here  that  which  he  will 
tell  thee  if  thou  goest  to  Delos.  We  who  have 
followed  thee  over  many  seas,  even  we  will  bring 
thy  children's  children  to  great  honor,  and  make 
their  city  ruler  over  many  nations.  Faint  not, 
therefore,  at  thy  long  wandering.  Thou  must 
seek  yet  another  home.  For  it  was  not  in  Crete 
that  Apollo  bade  thee  dwell.  There  is  a  land 
which  the  Greeks  call  Hesperia;  an  ancient  land, 
whose  inhabitants  are  mighty  men  of  valor;  a 
land  of  vineyards  and  wheat.  There  is  our  proper 
home,  and  thence  came  Dardanus  our  father.  Do 


28  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

thou,  therefore,  tell  these  things  to  the  old  man 
Anchises.  Seek  ye  for  the  land  of  Hesperia, 
which  men  also  call  Italy;  but  as  for  Crete, 
Jupiter  willeth  not  that  ye  should  dwell  there."' 

And  for  a  while  ^Eneas  lay  in  great  fear,  with 
a  cold  sweat  upon  him,  so  clear  was  the  vision 
of  those  whom  he  saw,  nor  in  anywise  like  unto 
a  dream.  Then  he  rose  up  from  his  bed,  and 
after  prayer  and  sacrifice  told  the  thing  to  An- 
chises. And  the  old  man  saw  that  he  had  been 
deceived  in  this  matter,  and  he  said,  "  0  my  son, 
now  do  I  remember  how  Cassandra  was  wont  to 
prophesy  these  things  to  me,  and  would  speak  of 
Hesperia  and  of  the  land  of  Italy.  But,  indeed, 
no  man  thought  in  those  days  that  the  men  of 
Troy  should  voyage  to  Hesperia,  nor  did  any  take 
account  of  the  Avords  of  Cassandra.  But  now  let 
us  heed  the  oracle  of  Apollo,  and  depart." 

So  the  mm  of  Troy  made  their  ships  ready 
and  departed.  And  after  a  while,  when  they 
could  no  more  see  the  land,  there  fell  a  great 
storm  upon  them,  with  a  strong  wind  and  groat 
rolling  waves,  and  much  lightning  also.  Thus 
were  they  driven  out  of  their  course,  and  for 
three  days  and  nights  saw  neither  the  sun  nor 
the  stars.  But  on  the  fourth  day  they  came  to 
a  land  where  they  saw  hills,  and  smoke  rising 
therefrom.  Then  did  .the  men  ply  their  oars 
amain,  and  soon  came  to  the  shore.  Now  this 
place  they  found  to  be  one  of  certain  islands 
which  men  name  the  Strophades.  And  upon 


POLYDORUS — DELOS— CRETE,  ETC.    29 

these  islands  dwell  creatures  which  are  called 
Harpies,  very  evil  indeed,  having  the  counte- 
nances of  women  and  wings  like  unto  the  wings 
of  birds  and  long  claws.  Also  their  faces  are 
pale  as  with  much  hunger.  Now  when  the  men 
of  Troy  were  come  to  this  land,  they  saw  many 
herds  of  oxen  and  flocks  of  goats  thereon,  nor 
any  one  to  watch  them.  Of  these  they  slew  such 
as  they  needed,  and,  not  forgetting  to  give  due 
share  to  the  Gods,  made  a  great  feast  upon  the 
shore.  But  lo !  even  while  they  made  merry,  there 
came  a  great  rushing  of  wings,  and  the  Harpies 
came  upon  them,  making  great  havoc  of  the  meat 
and  fouling  all  things  most  horribly.  And  when 
they  had  departed,  the  men  of  Troy  sought  an- 
other place  where  they  might  do  sacrifice  and  eat 
their  meat  in  peace.  But  when  the  Harpies  had 
come  thither  also  and  done  in  the  same  fashion, 
^neas  commanded  that  the  men  should  draw 
their  swords  and  do  battle  with  the  beasts. 
Therefore,  the  Harpies  coming  yet  again,  Misenus 
with  his  trumpet  gave  the  sound  for  battle.  But 
lo!  they  fought  as  those  that  beat  the  air,  seeing 
that  neither  sword  nor  spear  availed  to  wound 
the  beasts.  Then  again  these  departed,  one  only 
remaining,  by  name  Celaeno,  who,  sitting  on  a 
rock,  spake  after  this  fashion :  "  Do  ye  purpose, 
sons  of  Laomedon,  to  fight  for  these  cattle  that 
ye  have  wrongfully  taken,  or  to  drive  the  Har- 
pies from  their  kingdom  and  inheritance?  Hear, 
therefore,  my  words,  which  indeed  the  almighty 


30  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

Father  told  to  Phoebus,  and  Phoebus  told  to  me. 
Ye  journey  to  Italy,  and  to  Italy  shall  ye  come. 
Only  ye  shall  not  build  a  city,  and  wall  it  about 
with  walls,  till  dreadful  hunger  shall  cause  you 
to  eat  the  very  tables  whereon  ye  sup." 

So  saying,  she  departed.  But  when  great  fear 
was  fallen  upon  all,  Anchises  lifted  up  his  hands 
to  heaven  and  prayed  to  the  Gods  that  they  would 
keep  that  evil  from  them. 


CHAPTEK  V. 

KING   HELENUS — THE    CYCLOPS. 

THEN  they  set  sail,  and,  the  south  wind  blow- 
ing, passed  by  Zacynthus  and  Dulichium,  and 
also  Ithaca,  which  they  cursed  as  they  passed, 
because  it  was  the  land  of  the  hateful  Ulysses, 
and  so  came  to  Actium,  where  they  landed. 
There  also  they  did  sacrifice  to  the  Gods,  and 
had  games  of  wrestling  and  others,  rejoicing  that 
they  had  passed  safely  through  so  many  cities  of 
their  enemies.  And  there  they  wintered,  and 
^Eneas  fixed  on  the  doors  of  the  temple  of 
Apollo  a  shield  of  bronze  which  he  had  won  in 
battle  from  the  valiant  Abas,  writing  thereon 
these  words,  "  ^NEAS  DEDICATES  THESE  ARMS 

WON    FROM   THE   VICTORIOUS    GREEKS/' 

But  when  the  spring  was  come  they  set  sail, 
and,  leaving  behind  them  the  land  of  Ph'aeacia, 
came  to  Buthrotum  that  is  in  Epirus.  There  in- 
deed they  heard  a  marvellous  thing,  even  that 
Helenus,  the  son  of  Priam,  was  king  in  these 
parts,  in  the  room  of  Pyrrhus,  the  son  of  Achilles, 
having  also  to  wife  Andromache",  wbo  was  the 
widow  of  Hector.  And  when  ^Eneas,  wishing  to 
know  whether  these  things  were  so,  journeyed 

31 


32  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

towards  the  city,  lo!  in  a  grove  hard  by,  by  a 
river  which  also  was  called  Simois,  there  stood 
this  same  Andromache,  and  made  offerings  to  the 
spirit  of  Hector  not  without  many  tears.  And 
at  the  first  when  she  saw  ^Eneas,  and  that  he 
wore  such  arms  as  the  men  of  Troy  were  used 
to  wear,  she  swooned  with  fear,  but  after  a  while 
spake  thus :  "  Is  this  indeed  a  real  thing  that  I 
see?  Art  thou  alive?  or,  if  thou  art  dead,  tell 
me,  where  is  my  Hector  ? "  So  she  cried  and 
wept  aloud.  And  ^Eneas  answered  her :  "  Yes, 
lady,  this  is  flesh  and  blood,  and  not  a  spirit, 
that  thou  seest.  But  as  for  thee,  what  fortune 
has  befallen  thee?  Art  thou  still  wedded  to 
Pyrrhus?" 

And  she,  casting  down  her  eyes,  made  answer, 
"  0  daughter  of  Priam,  happy  beyond  thy  sisters 
in  that  thou  wast  slain  at  the  tomb  of  Achilles, 
nor  wast  taken  to  be  a  prey  of  the  conqueror! 
But  as  for  me  I  was  borne  across  the  sea,  to  be 
slave  of  the  haughty  son  of  Achilles.  And  when 
he  took  to  wife  Hermione,  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Helen,  he  gave  me  to  Helenus,  as  a  slave  is 
given  to  a  slave.  But  Pyrrhus,  after  a  while, 
Orestes  slew,  taking  him  unawares,  even  by  the 
altar  of  his  father.  And  when  he  was  dead,  part 
of  his  kingdom  came  to  Helenus,  who  hath  called 
the  land  Chaonia,  after  Chaon  of  Troy,  and  hath 
also  builded  a  citadel,  a  new  Pergama,  upon  the 
hills.  But  tell  me,  was  it  some  storm  that  drove 
thee  hither,  or  chance,  or,  lastly,  some  sending 


KING  HELENUS— THE  CYCLOPS.     33 

of  the  Gods?  And  is  Ascanius  yet  alive — the 
boy  whom,  I  remember?  Doth  he  yet  think  of 
his  mother  that  is  dead?  And  is  he  stout  and 
of  a  good  courage,  as  befits  the  son  of  ^Eneas 
and  sister's  son  to  Hector  ?  " 

And  while  she  spake  there  came  Helenus  from 
the  city  with'  a  great  company,  and  bade  welcome 
to  his  friends  with  much  joy.  And  ^Eneas  saw 
how  that  all  things  were  ordered  and  named  even 
as  they  had  been  at  Troy,  only  the  things  at 
Troy  had  been  great,  and  the  e  were  very  small. 
And  afterwards  King  Helenus  made  a  feast  to 
them  in  his  house,  and  they  drank  together  and 
were  merry. 

But  after  certain  days  were  passed,  JEneas, 
seeing  that  the  wind  favored  them,  spake  to 
Helenus,  knowing  him  also  to  be  a  prophet  of 
the  Gods:  "Tell  me  now,  seeing  that  thou  art 
wise  in  all  manner  of  divination  and  prophesy, 
how  it  will  fare  with  us.  For  indeed  all  things 
have  seemed  to  favor  us,  and  we  go  not  on  this 
journey  against  the  will  of  the  Gods,  yet  did  the 
Harpy  Cel&no  prophesy  evil  things,  that  we 
should  endure  great  extremity  of  hunger.  Say, 
then,  of  what  things  I  should  most  beware,  and 
how  I  shall  best  prosper." 

Then  Helenus,  after  due  sacrifice,  led  ^Eneas 
to  the  temple  of  Phoebus.  And  when  they  were 
come  thither,  and  the  god  had  breathed  into  the 
seer,  even  into  Helenus,  the  spirit  of  prophesy, 
he  spake,  saying,  "  Son  of  Venus,  that  thou  takest 
3 


34  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

thy  journey  across  the  sea  with  fav..r  of  the 
Gods,  is  manifest.  Hearken,  therefore,  and  I 
will  inform  thee  of  certain  things,  though  indeed 
they  be  few  out  of  many,  by  which  thou  mayest 
more  safely  cross  unknown  seas  and  get  thee  to 
thy  haven  in  Italy.  Much  indeed  the  Fates  suffer 
me  not  to  know,  and  much  Juno  forbids  me  fo 
speak.  Know  then,  first  of  all,  that  Italy,  which 
thou  ignorantly  thinkest  to  be  close  at  hand,  is 
yet  far  away  across  many  seas.  And  let  this  be 
a  sign  to  thee  that  thou  art  indeed  come  to  the 
place  where  thou  wouldst  be.  When  thou  shalt 
see  a  white  sow  and  thirty  pigs  at  her  teats,  then 
hast  thou  found  the  place  of  thy  city  that  shall 
be.  And  as  to  the  devouring  of  thy  tables  for 
famine,  heed  it  not:  Apollo  will  help  thee  at 
need.  But  seek  not  to  find  a  dwelling-place  on 
this  shore  of  Italy  which  is  near  at  hand,  seeing 
that  it  is  inhabited  by  the  accursed  sons  of  Greece. 
And  when  thou  hast  passed  it  by,  and  art  come 
to  the  land  of  Sicily,  and  shall  see  the  strait  of 
Pelorus  open  before  thee,  do  thou  keep  to  thy 
left  hand  and  avoid  the  way  that  is  on  thy  right. 
For  here  in  days  past  was  the  land  rent  asunder, 
so  that  the  waters  of  the  sea  flow  between  cities 
and  fields  that  of  old  time  were  joined  together. 
And  on  the  right  hand  is  Scylla,  and  on  the  left 
Charybdis  the  whirlpool.  But  Scylla  dwelleth  in 
her  cave,  a  monster  dreadful  to  behold;  for  to 
the  middle  she  is  a  fnir  woman,  but  a  beast  of 
the  sea  below,  even  the  belly  of  a  dolphin,  with 


KING  HELENUS — THE   CYCLOPS.  35 

heads  as  of  a  wolf.  Wherefore  it  will  be  hetter 
for  thee  to  fetch  a  compass  round  the  whole  land 
of  Sicily  than  to  come  nigh  these  things,  or  to 
see  them  with  thine  eyes.  Do  thou  also  remember 
thh,  at  all  places  and  times,  before  all  other  Gods 
to  worship  Juno,  that  thou  mayest  persuade  her, 
and  so  make  thy  way  safely  to  Italy.  And  when 
thou  art  come  thither,  seek  the  Sibyl  that 
dwelleth  at  Cumae,  the  mad  prophetess  that 
writeth  the  sayings  of  Fate  upon  the  leaves  of 
a  tree.  For  these  indeed  at  the  first  abide  in 
their  places,  but,  the  gate  being  opened,  the  wind 
blows  them  hither  and  thither.  And  when  they 
are  scattered  she  careth  not  to  join  them  again, 
so  that  they  who  would  inquire  of  her  depart 
without  an  answer.  Refuse  not  to  tarry  awhile, 
that  thou  mayest  take  counsel  of  her,  though  all 
things  seem  to  prosper  thy  journey  and  thy  com- 
rades chide  thy  delay.  For  she  shall  tell  thee  all 
that  shall  befall  thee  in  Italy — what  wars  thou 
shalt  wage,  and  what  perils  thou  must  endure, 
and  what  avoid.  So  much,  and  no  more,  is  it 
lawful  for  me  to  utter.  Do  thou  depart,  and 
magnify  our  country  of  Troy  even  to  the  heaven." 
And  when  the  seer  had  ended  these  sayings  he 
commanded  his  people  that  they  should  carry  to 
the  ships  gifts:  gold,  and  carvings  of  ivory,  and 
much  silver,  and  caldrons  that  had  been  wrought 
at  Dodona;  also  a  coat  of  chain  mail,  and  a 
helmet  with  a  fair  plume,  which  Pyrrhus  had 
worn.  Also  he  gave  gifts  to  the  old  man  Anchi.-es. 


36  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

Horses,  too,  he  gave,  and  guides  for  the  journey, 
and  tackling  for  the  ships,  and  arms  for  thu 
whole  company.  Then  did  he  bid  farewell  to  the 
old  Anchises.  Andromache  also  came,  bringing 
broidered  robes,  and  for  Ascanius  a  Phrygian 
cloak,  and  many  like  things,  which  she  gave  him, 
saying,  "  Take  these  works  of  my  hands,  that 
they  may  witness  to  thee  of  the  abiding  love  of 
her  that  was  once  Hector's  wife.  For  in  truth 
thou  art  the  very  image  of  my  Astyanax;  so  like 
are  thy  eyes  and  face  and  hands.  And  indeed  he 
would  now  be  an  age  with  thee."  Then  ^Eneas 
also  said  farewell,  weeping  the  while.  "  Be  ye 
happy,  whose  wanderings  are  over  and  rest  already 
won;  ye  have  no  seas  to  cross,  nor  fields  of  Italy, 
still  flying  as  we  advance,  to  seek.  Rather  ye 
have  the  likeness  of  Troy  before  your  eyes.  And 
be  sure  that  if  ever  I  come  to  this  land  of  Italy 
which'  I  seek,  there  shall  be  friendship  between 
you  and  me,  and  between  your  children  and  my 
children,  for  ever." 

Then  they  set  sail,  and  at  eventide  drew  their 
ships  to  the  land  and  slept  on  the  beach.  But 
at  midnight  Palinurus,  the  pilot,  rising  from  his 
bed,  took  note  of  the  winds  and  of  the  stars, 
even  of  Arcturus,  and  the  Greater  Bear  and  the 
Less,  and  Orion  with  his  belt  of  gold.  Seeing 
therefore  that  all  things  boded  fair  weather  to 
come,  he  blew  loud  the  signal  that  they  should 
depart;  which  they  did  forthwith.  And  when 
the  morning  was  now  growing  red  in  the  east, 


KING  HELENUS — THE   CYCLOPS.  37 

behold  a  land  with  hills  dimly  seen  and  shores 
lying  low  in  the  sea.  And,  first  of  all,  the  old 
man  Anchises  cried,  "  Lo!  there  is  Italy,"  and 
after  him  all  the  company.  Then  took  Anchises 
a  mighty  cup,  and  filled  it  with  wine,  and  stand- 
ing on  the  stern,  said,  "  Gods  of  sea  and  land, 
and  ye  that  have  power  of  the  air,  give  us  an 
easy  journey,  and  send  such  winds  as  may  favor 
us."  And  even  as  he  spake  the  wind  blew  more 
strongly  behind.  Also  the  harbor  mouth  grew 
wider  to  behold,  and  on  the  hills  was  seen  a  tem- 
ple of  Minerva.  And  lo !  upon  the  shore  four 
horses  white  as  snow,  which  the  old  man  seeing, 
said,  "  Thou  speakest  of  war,  land  of  the  stranger; 
for  the  horse  signifieth  war,  yet  doth  he  also  use 
himself  to  run  in  the  chariot,  and  to  bear  the 
bit  in  company;  therefore  also  will  we  hope  for 
peace."  Then  did  they  sacrifice  to  Minerva,  and 
to  Juno  also,  which  rites  the  seer  Helenus  had 
chiefly  commanded.  And  this  being  done  they 
trimmed  their  sails  and  departed  from  the  shore, 
fearing  lest  some  enemy,  the  Greeks  being  in  that 
place,  should  set  upon  them.  So  did  they  pass 
by  Tarentum,  which  Hercules  builded,  also  the 
hills  of  Caulon,  and  Scylacium,  where  many  ships 
are  broken.  And  from  Scylacium  they  beheld 
^Etna,  and  heard  a  great  roaring  of  the  sea,  and 
saw  also  the  waves  rising  up  to  heaven.  Then 
said  Anchises,  "Lo!  this  is  that  Charybdis 
whereof  the  seer  Helenus  spake  to  us.  Ply  your 
oars,  my  comrades,  and  let  us  fly  therefrom."  So 


38  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

they  strove  amain  in  rowing,  and  Palinurus  also 
steered  to  the  left,  all  the  other  ships  following 
him.  And  many  times  the  waves  lifted  them  to 
the  heaven,  and  many  times  caused  them  to  go 
down  to  the  deep.  But  at  the  last,  at  setting  of 
the  sun,  they  came  to  the  land  of  the  Cyclops. 

There,  indeed,  they  lay  in  a  harbor,  well 
sheltered  from  all  winds  that  blow,  but  all  the 
night  ^Etna  thundered  dreadfully,  sending  forth 
a  cloud  with  smoke  of  pitch,  and  ashes  fiery  hot, 
and  also  balls  of  fire,  and  rocks  withal  that  had 
been  melted  with  heat.  For  indeed  men  say  that 
the  giant  Enceladus  lieth  under  this  mountain, 
being  scorched  with  the  lightning  of  Jupiter,  and 
that  from  him  cometh  forth  this  flame;  also 
that  when,  being  weary,  he  turned  from  one  side 
to  the  other,  the  whole  land  of  the  Three  Capes  is 
shaken.  All  that  night  they  lay  in  much  fear,  nor 
knew  what  the  cause  of  this  uproar  might  be,  for 
indeed  the  sky  was  cloudy,  nor  could  the  moon 
be  seen. 

And  when  it  was  morning,  lo !  there  came  forth 
from  the  woods  a  stranger,  very  miserable  to  be- 
hold, in  filthy  garments  fastened  with  thorns,  and 
with  beard  unshaven,  who  stretched  out  to  them 
his  hands  as  one  who  prayed.  And  the  men  of 
Troy  knew  him  to  be  a  Greek.  But  he,  seeing 
them,  and  knowing  of  what  country  they  were, 
stood  awhile  in  great  "fear,  but  afterwards  ran 
very  swiftly  towards  them,  and  used  to  them  many 
prayers,  weeping  also  the  while.  "  I  pray  you, 


KING  HELENUS — THE   CYCLOPS.  39 

men  of  Troy,  by  the  stars  and  by  the  Gods,  and  by 
this  air  which  we  breathe,  to  take  me  away  from 
this  land,  whithersoever  ye  will.  And  indeed  I  ask 
not  whither.  That  I  am  a  Greek,  I  confess,  and 
also  that  I  bare  arms  against  Troy.  Wherefore 
drown  me,  if  ye  will,  in  the  sea.  Only  let  me  die, 
if  die  I  must,  by  the  hands  of  men." 

And  he  clung  to  their  knees.  Then  ^Eneaa 
bade  him  tell  who  he  was,  and  how  he  came  to  be 
in  this  plight.  And  the  man  made  answer,  "  I  aw 
a  man  of  Ithaca,  and  a  comrade  of  the  unhappy 
Ulysses.  My  name  is  Achasmenides,  and  my 
father  was  Adamastus.  And  when  my  comrades 
fled  from  this  accursed  shore  they  left  me  in  the 
Cyclops'  cave.  Hideous  is  he  to  see,  and  savage, 
and  of  exceeding  great  stature,  and  he  feeds  on 
the  flesh  of  men.  I  myself  saw  with  these  eyes 
how  lie  lay  and  caught  two  of  my  companions 
and  bake  them  on  the  stone;  aye,  and  I  saw  their 
limbs  quiver  between  his  teeth.  Yet  did  he  not 
do  such  things  unpunished,  for  Ulysses  endured 
not  to  behold  these  deeds,  and  when  the  giant  lay 
asleep,  being  overcome  with  wine,  we,  after  prayer 
made  to  the  gods  and  lots  cast  what  each  should  do, 
bored  out  his  eye,  for  one  eye  he  had,  huge  as  a 
round  shield  of  Argos,  or  as  the  circle  of  the  sun, 
and  so  did  we  avenge  our  comrades'  death.  Do  ye 
then  fly  with  all  the  speed  ye  may.  For  know  that 
as  this  shepherd  Polyphemus — a  shepherd  he  is  by 
trade — so  are  a  hundred  other  Cyclopes,  huge  and 
savage  as  he,  who  dwell  on  these  shores  and  wander 


40  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

over  the  hills.  And  now  for  three  months  have  I 
dwelt  in  these  woods,  eating  herries  and  cornels 
and  herbs  of  the  field.  And  when  I  saw  your 
ships  I  hastened  to  meet  them.  Do  ye  with  me, 
therefore,  as  ye  will,  so  that  I  flee  from,  this  ac- 
cursed race." 

And  even  while  he  spake  the  men  of  Troy  saw 
the  shepherd  Polyphemus  among  his  flocks,  and 
that  he  made  as  if  he  would  come  to  the  shore. 
Horrible  to  behold  was  he,  huge  and  shapeless  and 
blind.  And  when  he  came  to  the  sea  he  washed 
the  blood  from  the  wound,  grinding  his  teeth  the 
while,  and  though  he  went  far  into  the  sea,  yet 
did  not  the  waves  touch  his  middle.  And  the 
men  of  Troy,  having  taken  the  suppliant  on  board, 
fled  with  all  their  might;  and  he  hearing  their 
rowing  would  have  reached  to  them,  but  could  not. 
Therefore  did  he  shout  aloud,  and  the  Cyclopes 
hearing  him  hasted  to  the  shore.  Then  did  the 
men  of  Troy  behold  them,  a  horrid  company,  tall 
as  a  grove  of  oaks  or  cypresses.  Nor  knew  they  in 
their  fear  what  they  should  do,  seeing  that  on  the 
one  hand  was  the  land  of  the  Cyclopes  and  on  the 
other  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  of  which  the  seer 
Helenus  had  bidden  them  beware.  But  while 
they  doubted,  there  blew  a  north  wind  from 
Pelorus,  wherewith  they  sailed  onwards,  and 
Achaemenides  with  them.  So  they  came  to  Orty- 
gia,  whither,  as  men  say,  the  river  Alpheus  flow- 
eth  under  the  sea  from  the  land  of  Pelops,  and  so 
mingleth  with  Arethusa;  and  afterwards  they 


KING  HELENUS— THE  CYCLOPS.  41 

passed  the  promontory  of  Pachynus,  Camarina 
also,  and  Gela,  and  other  cities  likewise,  till  they 
came  to  Lilybaeum,  and  so  at  last  to  Drepanum. 
There  the  old  man  Anchises  died,  and  was  buried. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   SHIPWRECK. 

NOT  many  days  after  JEneas  and  his  compan- 
ions set  sail.  But  scarce  were  they  out  of  sight 
of  the  land  of  Sicily  when  Juno  espied  them. 
Very  wroth  was  she  that  they  should,  he  now 
drawing  near  to  the  end  of  their  journey,  and 
she  said  to  herself,  "  Shall  I  be  baulked  of  iny 
purpose,  nor  be  able  to  keep  these  men  of  Troy 
from  Italy?  Minerva,  indeed,  because  one  man 
sinned,  even  Ajax  Oileus  burned  the  fleet  of  the 
Greeks,  and  drowned  the  men  in  the  sea.  For  the 
ships  she  smote  with  the  thunderbolts  of  Jupiter; 
and  as  for  Ajax  him  she  caught  up  with  a  whirl- 
wind, and  dashed  him  upon  the  rocks,  piercing 
him  through.  Only  I,  though  I  be  both  sister  and 
wife  to  Jupiter,  avail  nothing  against  this  peo-* 
pie.  And  who  that  heareth  this  in  after  time 
shall  pay  me  due  honor  and  sacrifice  ?  " 

Then  she  went,  thinking  these  things  in  her 
heart,  to  the  land  of  ^Eolia,  where  King  ^Eolus 
keepeth  the  winds  under  bolt  and  bar.  Mightily 
do  they  roar  within  the  mountain,  but  their  king 
restraineth  them  and  keepeth  them  in  bounds,  be- 
ing indeed  set  to  do  this  very  thing,  lest  they 
42 


THE  SHIPWRECK.  43 

should  carry  both  the  heavens  and  the  earth  he- 
fore  them  in  their  great  fury.  To  him  said 
Juno,  "  0  ^Eolus,  whom  Jupiter  hath  made  king 
of  the  winds,  a  nation  which  I  hate  is  sailing  over 
the  Tuscan  sea.  Loose  now  thy  storms  against 
them,  and  drown  their  ships  in  the  sea.  And 
hearken  what  I  will  do  for  thee.  Twelve  maidens 
I  have  that  wait  on  me  continually,  who  are  pass- 
ing fair,  and  the  fairest  of  all,  even  De'iopea,  I 
will  give  thce  to  wife." 

To  whom  answered  King  ^Eolus,  "  It  is  for  thee, 
0  Queen,  to  order  what  thou  wilt,  it  being  of  thy 
gift  that  I  hold  this  sovereignty  and  eat  at  the 
table  of  the  Gods." 

So  saying  he  drave  in  with  his  spear  the  fold- 
ing-doors of  the  prison  of  the  winds,  and  these 
straightway  in  a  great  host  Tushed  forth,  even  all 
the  winds  together,  and  rolled  great  waves  upon 
the  shore.  And  straightway  there  arose  a  great 
shouting  of  men  and  straining  of  cables;  nor  could 
the  sky  nor  the  light  of  the  day  be  seen  any  more, 
but  a  darkness  as  of  night  came  down  upon  the 
sea,  and  there  were  thunders  and  lightnings  over 
the  whole  heavens. 

Then  did  ^Eneas  grow  cold  with  fear,  and 
stretching  out  his  hands  to  heaven  he  cried, 
"  Happy  they  who  fell  under  the  walls  of  Troy,  be- 
fore their  fathers'  eyes!  Would  to  the  Gods  that 
thou  hadst  slain  me,  Diomed,  bravest  of  the 
Greeks,  even  as  Hector  fell  by  the  spear  of 
Achilles,  or  tall  Sarpedon,  or  all  the  brave  war- 


44  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

riors  whose  dead  bodies  Simois  rolled  down  to 
the  sea ! " 

But  as  he  spake  a  blast  of  wind  struck  his  sails 
from  before,  and  his  ship  was  turned  broadside 
to  the  waves.  Three  others  also  were  tossed  upon 
the  rocks  which  men  call  the  "  Altars,"  and  three 
into  the  quicksands  of  the  Syrtis.  And  another, 
in  which  sailed  the  men  of  Lycia,  with  Orontcs, 
their  chief,  was  struck  upon  the  stern  by  a  great 
sea  and  sunk.  And  when  ^Eneas  looked,  lo! 
there  were  some  swimming  in  the  waves,  and 
broken  planks  also,  and  arms  and  treasures  of 
Troy.  Others  also  were  shattered  by  the  waves, 
as  those  of  Ilioneiis  and  Achates,  and  of  Abas  and 
the  old  man  Alethes. 

But  King  Neptune  was  aware  of  the  tumult 
where  he  sat  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  raising 
his  head  above  the  waves,  looked  forth  and  saw 
how  the  ships  were  scattered  abroad  and  the  men 
of  Troy  were  in  sore  peril.  Also  he  knew  his 
sister's  wrath  and  her  craft.  Then  he  called  to 
him  the  winds  and  said,  "  What  is  this,  ye  winds, 
that  ye  trouble  heaven  and  earth  without  leave  of 
me?  Now  will  I — but  T  must  first  bid  the  waves 
be  still,  only  be  sure  that  ye  shall  not  thus  escape 
hereafter.  Begone,  and  tell  your  king  that  the 
dominion  over  the  sea  belongeth  unto  me,  and  bid 
him  keep  him  to  his  rocks." 

Then  he  bade  the  waves  be  still;  also  he  scat- 
tered the  clouds  and  brought  back  the  sun.  And 
Cymothea  and  Triton,  gods  of  the  sea,  drew  the 


THE   SHIPWRECK.  45 

ships  from  the  locks,  Neptune  also  lifting  them 
with  his  trident.  Likewise  he  opened  the  quick- 
sands, and  delivered  the  ships  that  were  therein. 
And  this  being  done  he  crossed  the  sea  in  his 
chariot,  and  the  waves  beholding  him  sank  to  rest, 
even  as  it  befalls  when  there  is  sedition  in  the  city, 
and  the  people  are  wroth,  and  men  throw  stones 
and  firebrands,  till  lo !  of  a  -sudden  there  cometh 
forth  a  reverend  sire,  a  good  man  and  true,  and 
all  men  are  silent  and  hearken  to  him,  and  the 
uproar  is  stayed.  So  was  the  sea  stilled,  beholding 
its  king. 

Then  ^neas  and  his  companions,  being  sore 
wearied  with  the  storm,  made  for  the  nearest 
shore,  even  Africa,  where  they  found  a  haven  run- 
ning far  into  the  land,  into  which  the  waves  come 
not  till  their  force  is  spent.  On  either  side 
thereof  are  cliffs  very  high,  and  shining  woods 
over  them.  Also  at  the  harbor's  head  is  a  cave 
and  a  spring  of  sweet  water  within,  a  dwelling- 
place  of  the  Nymphs.  Hither  came  ^Eneas,  with 
seven  ships.  Right  glad  were  the  men  of  Troy  to 
stand  upon  the  dry  land  again.  Then  Achates 
struck  a  spark  out  of  fli^t,  and  they  lighted  a  fire 
with  leaves  and  the  like;  also  they  took  of  the 
wheat  which  had  been  in  the  ships,  and  made 
ready  to  parch  and  to  bruise  it,  that  they  might 
eat.  Meanwhile  ^Eneas  had  climbed  the  cliff,  if 
haply  he  might  see  some  of  his  companions'  ships. 
These  indeed  he  saw  not,  but  he  espied  three  great 
stags  upon  the  shore  and  a  herd  following  them. 


46  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

Wherefore,  taking  the  arrows  and  the  bow  which 
Achates  bare  with  him,  he  let  fly,  slaying  the 
leaders  and  others  also,  till  he  had  gotten  seven, 
one  for  each  ship.  Then  made  he  his  way  to  the 
landing-place,  and  divided  the  prey.  Also  he 
made  distribution  of  the  wine  which  Acestes,  their 
host  in  Sicily,  had  given  them  as  they  were  about 
to  depart,  and  spake  comfortable  words  to  them, 
saying,  "  0  my  friends,  be  ye  sure  that  there  will 
be  an  end  to  these  troubles;  and  indeed  ye  have 
suffered  worse  things  before.  Be  ye  of  good  cheer 
therefore.  Haply  ye  shall  one  day  have  pleasure 
in  thinking  of  these  things.  For  be  sure  that  the 
Gods  have  prepared  a  dwelling-place  for  us  in  Italy, 
where  we  shall  build  a  new  Troy,  in  great  peace 
and  happiness.  Wherefore  endure  unto  the  day 
of  prosperity." 

Then  they  made  ready  the  feast,  and  roasted 
of  the  meat  upon  spits,  and  boiled  other  in  water. 
Also  they  drank  of  the  wine  and  were  comforted. 
And  after  supper  they  talked  much  of  them  that 
were  absent,  doubting  whether  they  were  alive  or 
dead. 


JOVE  (JUPITEK). 
Museum  at  Naples.     Excavated  from  J'ompeii  in  1818. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

CARTHAGE. 

ALL  these  things  did  Jupiter  behold;  and  even 
as  he  beheld  them  there  came  to  him  Venus,  hav- 
ing a  sad  countenance  and  her  shining  eyes  dim 
with  tears,  and  spake :  "  0  great  Father,  that 
rulest  all  things,  what  have  ^Eneas  and  the  men  of 
Troy  sinned  against  thee,  that  the  whole  world 
is  shut  against  them?  Didst  not  thou  promise 
that  they  should  rule  over  land  and  sea?  Why, 
then,  art  thou  turned  back  from  thy  purpose? 
With  this  I  was  wont  to  comfort  myself  for  the 
evil  fate  of  Troy,  but  lo!  this  same  fate  follows 
them  still,  nor  is  there  any  end  to  their  troubles. 
And  yet  it  was  granted  to  Antenor,  himself  also 
a  man  of  Troy,  that  he  should  escape  from  the 
Greeks,  and  coming  to  the  Liburnian  land,  where 
Timavus  flows  with  much  noise  into  the  sea,  build 
a  city  and  find  rest  for  himself.  But  we,  who  are 
thy  children,  are  kept  far  from  the  land  which 
thou  hast  sworn  to  give  us." 

Then  her  father  kissed  her  once  and  again,  and 
answered  smiling,  "  Fear  not,  my  daughter,  the 
fate  of  thy  children  changeth  not.  Thou  shalt 
see  this  city  for  which  thou  lookcst,  and  shalt  re- 

47 


48  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

ceive  thy  son,  the  great-hearted  ^Eneas,  into  the 
heavens.  Hearken,  therefore,  and  I  will  tell  thee 
things  to  come.  ^Eneas  shall  war  with  the  na- 
tions of  Italy,  and  shall  subdue  them,  and  build  a 
city,  and  rule  therein  for  three  years.  And  after 
the  space  of  thirty  years  shall  the  boy  Ascanius, 
who  shall  hereafter  be  called  lulus  also,  change 
the  place  of  his  throne  from  Lavinium  unto  Alba ; 
and  for  three  hundred  years  shall  there  be  kings 
in  Alba  of  the  kindred  of  Hector.  Then  shall  a 
priestess  bear  to  Mars  twin  sons,  whom  a  she- 
wolf  shall  suckle;  of  whom  the  one,  even  Romu- 
lus,  shall  build  a  city,  dedicating  it  to  Mars,  and 
call  it  Rome,  after  his  own  name.  To  which  city 
have  I  given  empire  without  bound  or  end.  And 
Juno  also  shall  repent  her  of  her  wrath,  and  join 
counsel  with  me,  cherishing  the  men  of  Rome,  so 
that  they  shall  bear  rule  even  over  Argos  and 
Mycenae." 

And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  sent  down  his 
messenger,  even  Mercury,  to  turn  the  heart  of 
Dido  and  her  people,  where  they  dwelt  in  the  city 
of  Carthage,  which  they  had  builded,  so  that  they 
should  deal  kindly  with  the  strangers. 

Now  it  came  to  pass  on  the  next  day  that 
^neas,  having  first  hidden  his  ships  in  a  bay  that 
was  well  covered  with  trees,  went  forth  to  spy 
out  the  new  land  whither  he  was  come,  and 
Achates  only  went  with  him.  And  ^Eneas  had  in 
each  hand  a  broad-pointed  spear.  And  as  he 
went  there  met  him  in  the  middle  of  the  wood  his 


CARTHAGE.  49 

mother,  but  habited  as  a  Spartan  virgin,  for  she 
had  hung  a  bow  from  her  shoulders  after  the 
fashion  of  a  huntress,  and  her  hair  was  loose,  and 
her  tunic  short  to  the  knees,  and  her  garments 
gathered  in  a  knot  upon  her  breast.  Then  first 
the  false  huntress  spake,  "  If  perchance  ye  have 
seen  one  of  my  sisters  wandering  hereabouts, 
make  known  to  me  the  place.  She  is  girded  with 
a  quiver,  and  is  clothed  with  the  skin  of  a  spotted 
lynx,  or  may  be,  she  hunts  a  wild  boar  with  horn 
and  hound." 

To  whom  ^Eneas,  "  I  have  not  seen  nor  heard 
sister  of  thine,  0  virgin — for  what  shall  I  call 
thee?  for,  of  a  surety,  neither  is  thy  look  as  of  a 
mortal  woman,  nor  yet  thy  voice.  A  goddess  cer- 
tainly thou  art,  sister  of  Phoebus,  or  haply  one 
of  the  nymphs.  But  whatsoever  thou  art,  look  fa- 
vorably upon  us  and  help  us.  Tell  us  in  what 
land  we  be,  for  the  winds  have  driven  us  hither, 
and  we  know  not  aught  of  place  or  people." 

And  Yenus  said,  "  Nay,  stranger  I  am  not  such 
as  ye  think.  We  virgins  of  Tyre  are  wont  to 
carry  a  quiver  and  to  wear  a  buskin  of  purple. 
For  indeed  it  is  a  Tyrian  city  that  is  hard  by, 
though  the  land  be  Lybia.  And  of  this  city  Dido 
is  queen,  having  come  hither  from  Tyre,  flying 
from  the  wrong-doing  of  her  brother.  And  in- 
deed the  story  of  the  thing  is  long,  but  I  will  re- 
count the  chief  matter  thereof  to  thee.  The  hus- 
band of  this  Dido  was  one  Sichaeus,  richest  among 
all  the  men  of  Phoenicia,  and  greatly  beloved  of 


50  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

his  wife,  whom  he  married  from  a  virgin.  Xow 
the  brother  of  this  Sichaeus  was  Pygmalion,  the 
king  of  the  country,  and  he  exceeded  all  men  in 
wickedness.  And  when  there  arose  a  quarrel  be- 
tween them,  the  king,  being  exceedingly  mad  after 
gold,  took  him  unaware,  even  as  he  did  sacrifice 
at  the  altar,  and  slew  him.  And  the  king  hid  the 
matter  many  days  from  Dido,  and  cheated  her 
with  false  hopes.  But  at  the  last  there  came  to 
her  in  her  dreams  the  likeness  of  the  dead  man, 
baring  his  wounds  and  showing  the  wickedness 
which  had  been  done.  Also  he  bade  her  make 
haste  and  fly  from  that  land,  and,  that  she  might 
do  this  more  easily,  told  her  of  great  treasure, 
gold  and  silver,  that  was  hidden  in  the  earth. 
And  Dido,  being  much  moved  by  these  things, 
made  ready  for  flight;  also  she  sought  for  com- 
panions, and  there  came  together  to  her  all  as 
many  as  hated  the  king  or  feared  him.  Then  did 
ilicy  seize  ships  that  chanced  to  be  ready  and 
laded  them  with  gold,  even  the  treasure  of  King 
Pygmalion,  and  so  fled  across  the  sea.  And  in  all 
this  was  a  woman  the  leader.  Then  came  they  to 
this  place,  where  thou  seest  the  walls  and  citadel 
of  Carthage,  and  bought  so  much  land  as  they 
could  cover  with  a  bull's  hide.  And  now  do  ye 
answer  me  this,  Whence  come  ye,  and  whither  do 
ye  go?" 

Then  answered  JEneas,  "  Should  I  tell  the 
whole  story  of  our  wanderings,  and  thou  have 
leisure  to  hear,  evening  would  come  ere  I  could 


CARTHAGE.  51 

make  an  end.  We  are  men  of  Troy,  who,  having 
journeyed  over  many  seas,  have  njw  been  driven 
by  storms  to  this  shore  of  Lybia.  And  as  for  me, 
men  call  me  Prince  ^Eneas.  The  land  I  seek  id 
Italy,  and  my  race  is  from  Jupiter  himself.  With 
twenty  ships  did  I  set  sail,  going  in  the  way 
whereon  the  Gods  sent  me.  And  of  these  scarce 
seven  are  left.  And  now,  seeing  that  Europe  and 
Asia  endure  me  not,  I  wander  over  the  desert 
places  of  Africa." 

But  Venus  suffered  him  not  to  speak  more,  but 
said,  "  Whoever  thou  art,  stranger,  that  art  come 
to  this  Tyrian  city,  thou  art  surely  beloved  by  the 
Gods.  And  now  go,  show  thyself  to  the  queen. 
And  as  for  thy  ships  and  thy  companions,  I  tell 
thee  that  they  are  safe  in  the  haven,  if  I  have  not 
learnt  augury  in  vain.  See  those  twenty  swans, 
how  joyously  they  fly !  And  now  there  cometh  an 
eagle  swooping  down  from  the  sky,  putting  them 
to  confusion,  but  now  again  they  move  in  due 
order,  and  some  are  settling  on  the  earth  and 
some  are  preparing  to  settle.  Even  so  doth  it  fare 
with  thy  ships,  for  either  are  they  already  in  the 
haven  or  enter  thereinto  with  sails  full  set." 

And  as  she  spake  she  turned  away,  and  there 
shone  a  rosy  light  from  her  neck,  also  there  came 
from  her  hair  a  sweet  savour  as  of  ambrosia,  and 
her  garments  grew  under  her  feet;  and  -<33neas 
perceived  that  she  was  his  mother,  and  cried 
aloud, — 

"  0   my   mother,  why   dost   thou  mock  me   so 


52  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

often  with  false  shows,  nor  sufferest  me  to  join 
my  hand  unto  thy  hand,  and  to  speak  with  thee 
face  to  face?" 

And  he  went  towards  the  walls  of  the  city. 
But  Venus  covered  him  and  his  companions  with 
a  mist,  that  no  man  might  see  them,  or  hinder 
them,  or  inquire  of  their  business,  and  then  de- 
parted to  Paphos,  where  was  her  temple  and  also 
many  altars  of  incense.  Then  the  men  hastened 
on  their  way,  and  mounting  a  hill  which  hung 
over  the  city,  marvelled  to  behold  it,  for  indeed 
it  was  very  great  and  noble,  with  mighty  gates  and 
streets,  and  a  multitude  that  walked  therein. 
For  some  built  the  walls  and  the  citadel,  rolling 
great  stones  with'  their  hands,  and  others  marked 
out  places  for  houses.  Also  they  chose  those  that 
should  give  judgment  and  bear  rule  in  the  city. 
Some,  too,  digged  out  harbors,  and  others  laid 
the  foundations  of  a  theatre,  and  cut  out  great 
pillars  of  stone.  Like  to  bees  they  were,  when, 
the  summer  being  newly  come,  ihe  young  swarms 
go  forth,  or  when  they  labor  filling  the  cells  with 
honey,  and  some  receive  the  burdens  of  those  that 
return  from  the  fields,  and  others  keep  off  the 
drones  from  the  hive.  Even  so  labored  the  men 
of  Tyre.  And  when  ^Eneas  beheld  them  he  cried, 
"  Happy  ye,  who  even  now  have  a  city  to  dwell 
in !  "  And  being  yet  hidden  by  the  mist,  he  went 
in  at  the  gate  and  mingled  with  the  men,  being 
seen  of  none. 

Xow  in  the  midst  of  the  city  was  a  wood,  very 


CARTHAGE.  53 

thick  with  trees,  and  here  the  men  of  Carthage, 
first  come  to  the  land  from  their  voyage,  had 
digged  out  of  the  ground  that  which  Juno  had 
said  should  be  a  sign  to  them,  even  a  horse's  head ; 
for  that,  finding  this,  their  city  would  be  mighty 
in  war,  and  full  of  riches.  Here,  then,  Dido  w-is 
building  a  temple  to  Juno,  very  splendid,  with 
threshhold  of  bronze,  and  many  steps  thereunto ;  of 
bronze  also  were  the  door-posts  and  the  gates. 
And  here  befel  a  thing  which  gave  much  com- 
fort and  courage  to  ^Eneas;  for  as  he  stood  and 
regarded  the  place,  waiting  also  for  the  queen,  he 
saw  set  forth  in  order  upon  the  walls  the  battles 
that  had  been  fought  at  Troy,  the  sons  of  Atreus 
also,  and  King  Priam,  and  fierce  Achilles.  Then 
said  he,  not  without  tears,  "  Is  there  any  land,  0 
Achates,  that  is  not  filled  with  our  sorrows? 
Seest  thou  Priam?  Yet  withal  there  is  a  reward 
for  virtue  here  also,  and  tears  and  pity  for  the 
troubles  of  men.  Fear  not,  therefore.  Surely 
the  fame  of  these  things  shall  profit  us." 

Then  he  looked,  satisfying  his  soul  with  the 
paintings  on  the  walls.  For  there  was  the  city  of 
Troy.  In  this  part  of  the  field  the  Greeks  fled  and 
the  youth  of  Troy  pursued  them,  and  in  that  the 
men  of  Troy  fled,  and  Achilles  followed  hard  upon 
them  in  his  chariot.  Also  he  saw  the  white  tents 
of  Rhesus,  King  of  Thrace,  whom  the  fierce  Dio- 
med  slew  in  his  sleep,  when  he  was  newly  come  to 
Troy,  and  drave  his  horses  to  the  camp  before  they 
ate  of  the  grass  of  the  fields  of  Troy  or  drank  the 


54:  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

waters  of  Xanthus.  There  also  Tro'ilus  was  pic- 
tured, ill-matched  in  battle  with  the  great  Achil- 
les. His  horses  bare  him  along ;  but  he  lay  on  his 
back  in  the  chariot,  yet  holding  the  reins,  and  his 
neck  and  head  were  dragged  upon  the  earth,  and 
the  spear-point  made  a  trail  in  the  dust.  And  in 
another  place  the  women  of  Troy  went  suppliant- 
wise  to  the  temple  of  Minerva,  bearing  a  great 
and  beautiful  robe,  sad  and  beating  their  breasts', 
and  with  hair  unbound ;  but  the  goddess  regarded 
them  not.  Also  Achilles  dragged  the  body  of 
Hector  three  times  round  the  walls  of  Troy,  and 
was  selling  it  for  gold.  And  yEneas  groaned 
when  he  saw  the  man  whom  he  loved,  and  the  old 
man  Priam  reaching  out  helpless  hands.  Also  he 
knew  himself,  fighting  in  the  midst  of  the  Grecian 
chiefs ;  black  Memnon  also  he  knew,  and  the  hosts 
of  the  East;  and  Penthesilea  leading  the  army  of 
the  Amazons  with  shields  shaped  as  the  moon. 
Fierce  she  was  to  see,  with  one  breast  bared  for 
battle,  and  a  golden  girdle  beneath  it,  a  damsel 
daring  to  fight  with  men. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

DIDO. 

BUT  while  ^Eneas  marveled  to  see  these  things 
lo !  there  came,  with  a  great  throng  of  youths  be- 
hind her,  Dido,  most  beautiful  of  women,  fair  as 
Diana,  when,  on  the  banks  of  Eurotas  or  on  the 
hills  of  Cynthus,  she  leads  the  dance  with  a  thou- 
sand nymphs  of  the  mountains  about  her.  On  her 
shoulder  she  bears  a  quiver,  and  overtops  them  all, 
and  her  mother,  even  Latona,  silently  rejoices  to 
behold  her.  So  fair  and  seemly  to  see  was  Dido 
as  she  bare  herself  right  nobly  in  the  midst,  being 
busy  in  the  work  of  her  kingdom.  Then  she  sat 
herself  down  on  a  lofty  throne  in  the  gate  of  the 
temple,  with  many  armed  men  about  her.  And 
she  did  justice  between  man  and  man;  also  she 
divided  the  work  of  the  city,  sharing  it  equally 
or  parting  it  by  lot. 

Then  of  a  sudden  ^neas  heard  a  great  clamor, 
and  saw  a  company  of  men  come  quickly  to  the 
place,  among  whom  were  Antheus  and  Sergestus 
and  Cloanthus,  and  others  of  the  men  of  Troy 
that  had  been  parted  from  him  in  the  storm. 
Right  glad  was  he  to  behold  them,  yet  was  not 
without  fear ;  and  though  he  would  fain  have  come 

55 


56  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

forth  and  caught  them  by  the  hand,  yet  did  he 
tarry,  waiting  to  hear  how  the  men  had  fared, 
where  they  had  left  their  ships,  and  wherefore 
they  were  come. 

Then  Ilioneus,  being  now  given  that  he  should 
speak,  thus  began :  "  0  Queen,  whom  Jupiter 
permits  to  build  a  new  city  in  these  lands,  we 
men  of  Troy,  whom  the  winds  have  carried  over 
many  seas,  pray  thee  that  thou  save  our  ships 
from  fire,  and  spare  a  people  that  serveth  the 
Gods.  For,  indeed,  we  are  not  come  to  waste  the 
dwellings  of  this  land,  or  to  carry  off  spoils  to  our 
ships.  For,  of  a  truth,  they  who  have  suffered  so 
much  think  not  of  such  deeds.  There  is  a  land 
which  the  Greeks  call  Hesperia,  but  the  people 
themselves  Italy,  after  the  name  of  their  chief; 
an  ancient  land,  mighty  in  arms  and  fertile  of 
corn.  Hither  were  we  journeying,  when  a  storm 
arising  scattered  our  ships,  and  only  these  few 
that  thou  seest  escaped  to  the  land.  And  can 
there  be  nation  so  savage  that  it  receiveth  not  ship- 
wrecked men  on  its  shore,  but  beareth  arms 
against  them,  and  forbiddeth  them  to  land  ?  Nay, 
but  if  ye  care  not  for  men,  yet  regard  the  Gods, 
who  forget  neither  them  that  do  righteously  nor 
them  that  transgress.  We  had  a  king,  ^Eneas, 
than  whom  there  lived  not  a  man  more  dutiful  to 
Gods  and  men,  and  greater  in  war.  If  indeed  he 
be  yet  alive,  then  we  fear  not  at  all.  For  of  a 
truth  it  will  not  repent  thee  to  have  helped  us. 
And  if  not,  other  friends  have  we,  as  Acestes  of 


DIDO.  57 

Sicily.  Grant  us,  therefore,  to  shelter  our  ships 
from  the  wind;  also  to  fit  them  with  fresh  timber 
from  the  woods,  and  to  make  ready  oars  for  row- 
ing, so  that,  finding  again  our  king  and  our  com- 
panions, we  may  gain  the  land  of  Italy.  But  if 
he  be  dead,  and  Ascanius  his  son  lost  also,  then 
there  is  a  dwelling  ready  for  us  in  the  land  of 
Sicity,  with  Acestes,  who  is  our  friend." 

Then  Dido,  her  eyes  bent  on  the  ground,  thus 
spake,  "  Fear  not,  men  of  Troy.  If  we  have 
seemed  to  deal  harshly  with  you,  pardon  us,  see- 
ing that,  being  newly  settled  in  this  land,  we 
must  keep  watch  and  ward  over  our  coasts.  But 
as  for  the  men  of  Troy,  and  their  deeds  in  arms, 
who  knows  them  not?  Think  not  that  we  in 
Carthage  are  so  dull  of  heart,  or  dwell  so  remote 
from  man,  that  we  are  ignorant  of  these  things. 
Whether,  therefore,  ye  will  journey  to  Italy,  or 
rather  return  to  Sicily  and  King  Acestes,  know 
that  I  will  give  you  all  help,  and  protect  you ;  or,  if 
ye  will,  settle  in  this  land  of  ours.  Yours  is  this 
city  which  I  am  building.  I  will  make  no  dif- 
ference between  man  of  Troy  and  man  of  Tyre. 
Would  that  your  king  also  were  here !  Surely  I 
will  send  those  that  shall  seek  him  in  all  parts  of 
Libya,  lest  haply  he  should  be  gone  astray  in  any 
forest  or  strange  city  of  the  land." 

And  when  ^neas  and  Achates  heard  these 
things  they  were  glad,  and  would  have  come  forth 
from  the  cloud,  and  Achates  said,  "  WThat  thinkest 
thou?  Lo,  thy  comrades  are  safe,  saving  him 


58  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

whom  we  saw  with  our  own.  eyes  drowned  in  the 
waves;  and  all  other  things  are  according  as  thy 
mother  said." 

And  even  as  he  spake  the  cloud  parted  from 
about  them,  and  u.'Eneas  stood  forth,  very  bright  to 
behold,  with  face  and  breast  as  of  a  god,  for  his 
mother  had  given  to  him  hair  beautiful  to  see,  and 
cast  about  him  the  purple  light  of  youth,  even  as 
a  workman  sets  ivory  in  some  fair  ornament,  or 
compasseth  about  silver  or  marble  of  Paros  with 
gold.  Then  spake  he  to  the  queen,  "  Lo  !  I  am  he 
whom  ye  seek,  even  ^Eneas  of  Troy,  scarcely  saved 
from  the  waters  of  the  sea.  And  as  for  thee,  O 
Queen,  seeing  that  thou  only  hast  been  found  to 
pity  the  unspeakable  sorrows  of  Troy,  and  biddest 
us,  though  we  be  but  poor  exiles  and  lacking  all 
things,  to  share  thy  city  and  thy  home,  may  the 
Gods  do  so  to  thee  as  thou  deservest.  And,  of  a 
truth,  so  long  as  the  rivers  run  to  the  seas,  and  the 
shadows  fall  on  the  hollows  of  the  hills,  so  long 
will  thy  name  and  thy  glory  survive,  whatever  be 
the  land  to  which  the  Gods  shall  bring  me."  Then 
gave  he  his  right  hand  to  Ilioneus,  and  his  left 
hand  to  Sergestus,  and  greeted  them  with  great 
joy. 

And  Dido,  hearing  these  things,  was  silent  for 
a  while,  but  at  the  last  he  spake:  "What  ill 
fortune  brings  thee  into  perils  so  great?  what 
power  drave  thee  to  these  savage  shores?  Well  do 
I  mind  me  how  in  days  gone  by  there  came  to 
Sidon  one  Teucer,  who,  having  been  banished 


DIDO.  59 

from  his  country,  sought  help  from  Belus  that  he 
might  find  a  kingdom  for  himself.  And  -it 
chanced  that  in  those  days  Belus,  my  father,  had 
newly  conquered  the  land  of  Cyprus.  From  that 
day  did  I  know  the  tale  of  Troy,  and  thy  name 
also,  and  the  chiefs  of  Greece.  Also  I  remember 
that  Teucer  spake  honorably  of  the  men  of  Troy, 
saying  that  he  was  himself  sprung  of  the  old 
Teucrian  stock.  Come  ye,  therefore,  to  my  pal- 
ace. I  too  have  wandered  far,  even  as  you,  and 
=o  have  come  to  this  land,  and  having  suffered 
much  have  learnt  to  succor  them  that  suffer." 

So  saying  she  led  ^neas  into  her  palace;  also 
she  sent  to  his  companions  in  the  ships  great 
store  of  provisions,  even  twenty  oxen  and  a  hun- 
dred bristly  ewine  and  a  hundred  ewe  sheep  with 
their  lambs.  But  in  the  palace  a  great  feast  was 
set  forth,  couches  covered  with  broidered  purple, 
and  silver  vessels  without  end,  and  cups  of  gold, 
whereon  were  embossed  the  mighty  deeds  of  the 
men  of  old  time. 

And  in  the  mean  time  ^Eneas  sent  Achates  in 
haste  to  the  ships,  that  he  mi<?ht  fetch  Ascanius 
to  the  feast.  Also  he  bade  that  the  boy  should 
bring  with  him  gifts  of  such  things  as  they  had 
saved  from  the  ruins  of  Troy,  a  mantle  stiff  with 
broidery  of  gold  and  a  veil  bordered  with  yellow 
acanthus,  which  the  fair  Helen  had  taken  with 
her,  flying  from  her  home;  but  Leda,  her  mother, 
had  given  them  to  Helen ;  a  scepter  likewise 
which  Ilione,  first-bom  of  the  daughters  of  Priam, 


60  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

had  carried,  and  a  necklace  of  pearls  and  a  double 
crown  of  jewels  and  gold. 

But  Venus  was  troubled  in  heart,  fearing  evil 
to  her  son  should  the  men  of  Tyre  be  treacherous, 
after  their  wont,  and  Juno  remember  her  wrath. 
Wherefore,  taking  counsel  with  herself,  she  called 
to  the  winged  boy,  even  Love,  that  was  her  son, 
and  spake,  "  My  son,  who  art  all  my  power  and 
strength,  who  laughest  at  the  thunders  of  Jupiter, 
thou  knowest  how  Juno,  being  exceedingly  wroth 
against  thy  brother  ^Eneas,  causoth  him  to  wander 
out  of  the  way  over  all  lands.  This  day  Dido 
hath  him  in  her  palace,  and  speaketh  him  fair; 
but  I  fear  me  much  how  these  things  may  end. 
Wherefore  hear  thou  that  which  I  purpose.  Thy 
brother  hath  even  now  sent  for  the  boy  Ascanius, 
that  he  may  come  to  the  palace,  bringing  with  him 
gifts  of  such  things  as  they  saved  from  the  ruins 
of  Troy.  Him  will  I  cause  to  fall  into  a  deep 
sleep,  and  hide  in  Cythera  or  Idalium,  and  do 
thou  for  one  night  take  upon  thee  his  likeness. 
And  when  Queen  Dido  at  the  feast  shall  hold  thee 
in  her  lap,  and  kiss  and  embrace  thee,  do  thou 
breathe  by  stealth  thy  fire  into  her  heart." 

Then  did  Love  as  his  mother  bade  him,  and  put 
off  his  wings,  and  took  upon  him  the  shape  of 
Ascanius,  but  on  the  boy  Venus  caused  there  to 
fall  a  deep  sleep,  and  carried  him  to  the  woods  of 
Idaliumi.,  and  lapped  him  in  sweet-smelling 
flowers.  And  in  his  stead  Love  carried  the  gifts 
to  the  queen.  And  when  he  was  come  they  sat 


DIDO.  61 

down  to  the  feast,  the  queen  being  in  the  midst 
under  a  canopy.  ^Eneas  also  and  the  men  of  Troy 
lay  on  coverlets  of  purple,  to  whom  serving-men 
brought  water  and  bread  in  baskets  and  napkins; 
and  within  fifty  handmaids  were  ready  to  re- 
plenish the  store  of  victual  and  to  fan  the  fire; 
and  a  hundred  others,  with  pages  as  many,  loaded 
the  tables  with  dishes  and  drinking-cups.  Many 
men  of  Tyre  also  were  bidden  to  the  feast.  Much 
they  marvelled  at  the  gifts  of  ^Eneas,  and  much 
ai  the  false  Ascanius.  Dido  also  could  not  satisfy 
herself  with  looking  on  him,  nor  knew  what  trou- 
ble he  was  preparing  for  her  in  the  time  to  come. 
And  he,  having  first  embraced  the  father  who  was 
not  his  father,  and  clung  about  his  neck,  ad- 
dressed himself  to  Queen  Dido,  and  she  ever  fol- 
lowed him  with  her  eyes,  and  sometimes  would 
hold  him  on  her  lap.  And  still  he  worked  upon 
her  that  she  should  forget  the  dead  Sichaeus  and 
conceive  a  new  love  in  her  heart. 

But  when  they  first  paused  from  the  feast,  lo! 
men  set  great  bowls  upon  the  table  and  filled 
them  to  the  brim  with  wine.  Then  did  the  queen 
call  for  a  great  vessel  of  gold,  with  many  jewels 
upon  it,  from  which  Belus,  and  all  the  kings  from 
Belus,  had  drunk,  and  called  for  wine,  and  having 
filled  it  she  cried,  "  0  Jupiter,  whom  they  call 
the  god  of  hosts  and  guests,  cause  that  this  be 
a  day  of  joy  for  the  men  of  Troy  and  for  them 
of  Tyre,  and  that  our  children  remember  it  for 
ever.  Also  Bacchus,  giver  of  joy,  be  present,  and 


62  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

kindly  Juno."  'And  when  she  had  touched  the 
wine  with  her  lips,  she  handed  the  great  cup  to 
Prince  Bitias,  who  drank  thereout  a  mighty 
draught,  and  the  other  princes  after  him.  Then 
the  minstrel  lopas,  whom  Atlas  himself  had 
taught,  sang  to  the  harp,  of  the  moon,  how  she 
goes  on  her  way,  and  of  the  sun,  how  his  light 
is  darkened.  He  sang  also  of  men,  and  of  the 
beasts  of  the  field,  whence  they  come;  and  of  the 
stars,  Arcturus,  and  the  Greater  Bear  and  the 
Less,  and  the  Hyades;  and  of  the  winter  sun, 
why  he  hastens  to  dip  himself  in  the  ocean;  and 
of  the  winter  nights,  why  they  tarry  so  long. 
The  queen  also  talked  much  of  the  story  of  Troy, 
of  Priam,  and  of  Hector,  asking  many  things, 
as  of  the  arms  of  Memnon,  and  of  the  horses  of 
Diomed,  and  of  Achilles,  how  great  he  was.  And 
at  last  she  said  to  yEneas,  "  Tell  us  now  thy  story, 
how  Troy  was  taken,  and  thy  wanderings  over 
land  and  sea."  And  ^Eneas  made  answer,  "  Nay, 
0  Queen,  but  thou  biddest  me  renew  a  sorrow 
unspeakable.  Yet,  if  thou  art  minded  to  hear 
these  things,  hearken."  And  he  told  her  all  that 
had  befallen  him,  even  to  the  day  when  his  father 
Anchises  died. 


•-  -s 
:  I 


CHAPTER  IX. 

THE    LOVE    AND    DEATH    OF    DIDO. 

MUCH  was  Queen  Dido  moved  by  the  story, 
and  much  did  she  marvel  at  him  that  told  it, 
and  scarce  could  sleep  for  thinking  of  him.  And 
the  next  day  she  spake  to  Anna,  her  sister,  "  0 
my  sister,  I  have  been  troubled  this  night  with 
ill  dreams,  and  my  heart  is  disquieted  within  me. 
What  a  man  is  this  stranger  that  hath  come  to 
our  shores !  How  noble  of  mien !  How  bold  in 
Avar!  Sure  I  am  that  he  is  of  the  sons  of  the 
Gods.  What  fortunes  have  been  his!  Of  wh'at 
wars  he  told  us!  Surely  were  I  not  steadfastly 
purposed  that  I  would  not  yoke  me  again  in  mar- 
riage, this  were  the  man  to  whom  I  might  yield. 
Only  he — for  I  will  tell  thee  the  truth,  my  sister 
— only  he,  since  the  day  when  Sichaeus  died  by 
his  brother's  hand,  hath  moved  my  heart.  But 
may  the  earth  swallow  me  up,  or  the  almighty 
Father  strike  me  with  lightning,  ere  I  stoop  to 
such  baseness.  The  husband  of  my  youth  hath 
carried  with  him  my  love,  and  he  shall  keep  it 
in  his  grave." 

So  she  spake,  with  many  tears.  And  her  sister 
made  answer,  "Why  wilt  thou  waste  thy  youth 

63 


64:  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

in  sorrow,  without  child  or  husband?  Thinkest 
thou  that  there  is  care  or  remembrance  of  such 
things  in  the  grave?  No  suitors  indeed  have 
pleased  thee  here  or  in  Tyre,  but  wilt  thou  also 
contend  with  a  love  that  is  after  thine  own  heart  ? 
Think  too  of  the  nations  among  whom  thou 
dwellest,  how  fierce  they  are,  and  of  thy  brother 
at  Tyre,  what  he  threatens  against  thee.  Surely 
it  was  by  the  will  of  the  Gods,  and  of  Juno 
chiefly,  that  the  ships  of  Troy  came  hither.  And 
this  city,  which  thou  buildest,  to  what  greatness 
will  it  grow  if  only  thou  wilt  make  for  thyself 
such  alliance !  How  great  will  be  the  glory  of 
Carthage  if  the  strength  of  Troy  be  joined  unto 
her !  Only  do  thou  pray  to  the  Gods  and  offer 
sacrifices;  and,  for  the  present,  seeing  that  the 
time  of  sailing  is  now  past,  make  excuse  that 
these  strangers  tarry  with  thee  awhile." 

Thus  did  Anna  comfort  her  sister  and  en- 
con  rage  her.  And  first  the  two  offered  sacrifice 
to  the  Gods,  chiefly  to  Juno,  who  careth  for  the 
bond  of  marriage.  Also,  examining  the  entrails 
of  slain  beasts,  they  sought  to  learn  the  things 
that  should  happen  thereafter.  And  ever  Dido 
would  company  with  ^neas,  leading  him  about 
the  walls  of  the  city  which  she  builded.  And 
often  she  would  begin  to  speak  and  stay  in  the 
midst  of  her  words.  And  when  even  was  como, 
she  would  hear  again  and  again  at  the  banquet 
the  tale  of  Troy,  and  while  others  slept  would 
watch,  and  while  he  was  far  away  would  seem  to 


THE   LOVE  AND  DEATH  OF  DIDO.  65 

see  him  and  to  hear  him.  Ascanius,  too,  she 
would  embrace  for  love  of  his  father,  if  so  she 
might  cheat  her  own  heart.  But  the  work  of  the 
city  was  stayed  meanwhile;  nor  did  the  towers 
rise  in  their  places,  nor  the  youth  practise  them- 
selves in  arms. 

Then  Juno,  seeing  how  it  fared  with  the  queen, 
spake  to  Venus,  "  Are  ye  satisfied  with  your  vic- 
tory, thou  and  thy  son,  that  ye  have  vanquished 
the  two  of  you  one  woman?  Well  I  knew  that 
thou  fearedst  lest  this  Carthage  should  harm  thy 
favorite.  But  why  should  there  be  war  between 
us?  Thou  hast  what  thou  seekedst.  Let  us  make 
alliance.  Let  Dido  obey  a  Phrygian  husband, 
and  bring  the  men  of  Tyre  as  her  dowry." 

But  Venus  knew  that  she  spake  with  ill  intent, 
to  the  end  that  the  men  of  Troy  should  not  reign 
in  the  land  of  Italy.  Nevertheless  she  dissembled 
with  her  tongue,  and  spake,  "  Who  would  not 
rather  have  peace  with  thee  than  war?  Only  I 
doubt  whether  this  thing  shall  be  to  the  pleasure 
of  Jupiter.  This  thou  must  learn,  seeing  that 
thou  art  his  wife,  and  where  thou  leadest  I  will 
follow." 

So  the  two,  taking  counsel  together,  ordered 
things  in  this  wise.  The  next  day  a  great  hunt- 
ing was  prepared.  For  as  soon  as  ever  the  sun 
was  risen  upon  the  earth,  the  youth  of  the  city, 
assembled,  with  nets  and  hunting  spears  and  dogs 
that  ran  by  scent.  And  the  princes  of  Carthage 
waited  for  the  queen  at  the  palace  door,  where 

5 


66  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

her  horse  stood  champing  the  bit,  with  trappings 
of  purple  and  gold.  And  after  a  while  she  came 
forth,  with  many  following  her.  And  she  had 
upon  her  a  Sidonian  mantle,  with  a  border 
wrought  with  divers  colors;  of  gold  was  her 
quiver,  and  of  gold  the  knot  of  her  hair,  and  of 
gold  the  clasp  to  her  mantle.  yEneas  likewise 
came  forth,  beautiful  as  is  Apollo  when  he 
leaveth  Lydia  and  the  stream  of  Xanthus,  com- 
ing to  Delos,  and  hath  about  his  hair  a  wreath 
of  bay-leaves  and  a  circlet  of  gold.  So  fair  was 
^neas  to  see.  And  when  the  hunters  came  to 
the  hills  they  found  great  store  of  goats  and  stags, 
which  they  chased.  And  of  all  the  company 
Ascanius  was  the  foremost,  thinking  scorn  of 
such  hunting,  and  wishing  that  a  wild  boar  or  a 
lion  out  of  the  hills  should  come  forth  to  be  his 
prey. 

And  now  befell  a  great  storm,  with  much 
thunder  and  hail,  from  which  the  hunters  sought 
shelter.  But  ^Eneas  and  the  queen,  being  left 
of  all  their  company,  came  together  to  the  same 
cave.  And  there  they  plighted  their  troth  one  to 
another.  Nor  did  the  queen  after  that  make 
secret  of  her  love,  but  called  v'Eneas  her  husband. 

Straightway  went  Rumor  and  told  these  things 
through'  the  cities  of  Libya.  Now  Rumor,  men 
say,  is  the  youngest  daughter  of  Earth,  a  mar- 
velous creature,  moving  very  swiftly  with  feet  and 
wings,  and  having  many  feathers  upon  her,  and 
under  every  feather  an  eye  and  a  tongue  and  a 


THE   LOVE   AND   DEATH   OF   DIDO.  67 

mouth  and  an  car.  In  the  night  she  flieth  be- 
tween heaven  and  earth,  and  sleepeth  not;  and 
in  the  day  she  sitteth  on  some  housetop  or  lofty 
tower,  or  spreadeth  fear  over  mighty  cities;  and 
she  loveth  that  which  is  false  even  as  she  loveth  that 
which  is  true.  So  now  she  went  telling  through 
Libya  how  ^Eneas  of  Troy  was  come,  and  Dido 
was  wedded  to  him,  and  how  they  lived  careless 
and  at  ease,  and  thinking  not  ef  the  work  to 
which  they  were  called. 

And  first  of  all  she  went  to  Prince  larbas,  who 
himself  had  sought  Dido  in  marriage.  And 
larbas  was  very  wroth  when  he  heard  it,  and, 
coming  to  the  temple  of  Jupiter,  spread  his  grief 
before  the  god,  how  that  he  had  given  a  place  on 
his  coasts  to  this  Dido,  and  would  have  taken  her 
to  wife,  but  that  she  had  married  a  stranger  from 
Phrygia,  another  Paris,  whose  dress  and  adorn- 
ments were  of  a  woman  rather  than  of  a  man. 

And  Jupiter  saw  that  this  was  so,  and  he  said 
to  Mercury,  who  was  his  messenger,  "  Go  speak 
to  ^neas  these  words :  '  Thus  saith  the  King  of 
Gods  and  men.  Is  this  what  thy  mother  promised 
of  thee,  twice  saving  thee  from  the  spear  of  the 
Greeks?  Art  thou  he  that  shall  rule  Italy  and 
its  mighty  men  of  war,  and  spread  thy  dominion 
to  the  ends  of  the  world?  If  thou  thyself  for- 
gettest  these  things,  dost  thou  grudge  to  thy  son 
the  citadels  of  Rome?  What  doest  thou  here? 
Why  lookest  thou  not  to  Italy  ?  Depart  and  tarry 
not!' » 


68  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

Then  Mercury  fitted  the  winged  sandals  to  his 
feet,  and  took  the  wand  with  which  he  driveth 
the  spirits  of  the  dead,  and  came  right  soon  to 
Mount  Atlas,  which  standeth  bearing  the  heaven 
on  his  head,  and  having  alwa}rs  clouds  about  his 
top,  and  snow  upon  his  shoulders,  and  a  beard 
that  is  stiff  with  ice.  There  Mercury  stood  awhile ; 
then,  as  a  bird  which  seeks  its  prey  in  the  sea, 
shot  headlong  down,  and  came  to  ^Eneas  where 
he  stood,  with  a  yellow  jasper  in  his  sword-hilt, 
and  a  cloak  of  purple  shot  with  gold  about  his 
shoulders,  and  spake:  "Buildest  thou  Carthage, 
forgetting  thine  own  work?  The  Almighty 
Father  saith  to  thee,  '  What  meanest  thou  ?  Why 
tarriest  thou  here?  If  thou  carest  not  for  thy- 
self, yet  think  of  thy  son,  and  that  the  Fates 
have  given  to  him  Italy  and  Rome.' " 

And  zEneas  saw  him  no  «nore.  And  he  stood 
stricken  with  fear  and  doubt.  Fain  would  he 
obey  the  voice,  and  g3  as  the  Gods  commanded. 
But  how  should  he  tell  this  purpose  to  the  queen  ? 
But  at  the  last  it  seemed  good  to  him  to  call 
certain  of  the  chiefs,  as  Mnestheus,  and  Sergestus, 
and  Antheus,  and  bid  them  make  ready  the  ships 
in  silence,  and  gather  together  the  people,  but 
dissemble  the  cause,  and  he  himself  would  watch 
a  fitting  time  to  speak  and  unfold  the  matter  to 
the  queen. 

Yet  was  not  Dido  deceived,  for  love  is  keen  of 
sight.  Rumor  also  told  her  that  they  made  ready 
the  ships  for  tailing.  Then,  flying  through  the 


THE  LOVE   AND   DEATH   OF  DIDO.  69 

city,  even  as  one  on  whom  has  come  the  frenzy 
of  Bacchus  flies  by  night  over  Mount  Cithaeron, 
she  came  upon  JEneas,  and  spake :  "  Thoughtest 
thou  to  hide  thy  crime,  and  to  depart  in  silence 
from  this  land?  Carest  thou  not  for  her  whom 
thou  leavest  to  die?  And  hast  thou  no  fear  of 
winter  storms  that  vex  the  sea?  By  all  that  I 
have  done  for  thee  and  given  thee,  if  there  be 
yet  any  place  for  repentance,  repent  thee  of  this 
purpose.  For  thy  sake  I  suffer  the  wrath  of  the 
princes  of  Libya  and  of  my  own  people;  and  if 
thou  leavest  me,  for  what  should  I  live? — till 
my  brother  overthrow  my  city,  or  larbas  carry  me 
away  captive?  If  but  I  had  a  little  -^Eneas  to 
play  in  my  halls  I  should  not  seem  so  altogether 
desolate." 

But  ^Eneas,  fearing  the  words  of  Jupiter, 
stood  with  eyes  that  relented  not.  At  the  last 
he  spake :  "  I  deny  not,  0  Queen,  the  benefits 
that  thou  hast  done  unto  me,  nor  ever,  while  I 
live,  shall  I  forget  Dido.  I  sought  not  to  fly  by 
stealth;  yet  did  I  never  promise  that  I  would 
abide  in  this  place.  Could  I  have  chosen  accord- 
ing to  my  will  I  had  built  again  the  city  of  Troy 
where  it  stood;  but  the  Gods  command  that  I 
should  seek  Italy.  Thou  hast  thy  Carthage:  why 
dost  thou  grudge  Italy  to  us?  Nor  may  I  tarry. 
Night  after  night  have  I  seen  my  father  Anchises 
warning  me  in  dreams.  Also  even  now  the  mes- 
senger of  Jupiter  came  to  me — with  these  ears 
I  heard  him — and  bade  me  depart." 


YO  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

Then,  in  great  wrath,  with  eyes  askance,  did 
Dido  break  forth  upon  him :  "  Surely  no  goddess 
was  thy  mother,  nor  art  thou  come  of  the  race  of 
Dardanus.  The  rocks  of  Caucasus  brought  thee 
forth,  and  an  Hyrcanian  tigress  gave  thee  suck. 
For  why  should  I  dissemble?  Was  he  moved  at 
all  my  tears?  Did  he  pity  my  love?  Nay, 
the  very  Gods  are  against  me.  This  man  I  took 
to  myself  when  he  was  shipwrecked  and  ready  to 
perish.  I  brought  back  his  ships,  h's  companions 
from  destruction.  And  now  forsooth  comes  the 
messenger  of  Jupiter  with  dreadful  commands 
from  the  Gods.  As  for  thee,  I  keep  thee  not. 
Go,  seek  thy  Italy  across  the  seas:  only,  if  there 
is  any  vengeance  in  heaven,  thou  wilt  pay  the 
penalty  for  this  wrong,  being  wrecked  on  some 
irock  in  their  midst.  Then  wilt  thou  call  on 
Dido  in  vain.  Aye,  .and  wherever  thou  shalt  go 
T  will  haunt  th'ee,  and  rejoice  in  the  dwellings 
below  to  hear  thy  doom." 

Then  she  turned,  and  hasted  to  go  into  the 
house.  But  her  spirit  left  her,  so  that  her 
maidens  bare  her  to  her  chamber  and  laid  her 
on  her  bed. 

Then  JEneas,  though  indeed  he  was  much 
troubled  in  heart,  and  would  fain  have  com- 
forted the  queen,  was  obedient  to  the  heavenly 
word,  and  departed  to  his  ships.  And  the  men 
of  Troy  busied  themselves  in  making  them,  ready 
for  the  voyage.  Even  as  the  ants  spoil  a  great 
heap  of  corn  and  store  it  in  their  dwellings  against 


THE   LOVE   AND   DEATH   OF  DIDO.  71 

winter,  moving  in  a  black  line  across  the  field, 
and  some  carry  the  great  grains,  and  some  chide 
those  that  linger,  even  so  did  the  Trojans  swarm 
along  the  ways  and  labor  at  the  work. 

But  when  Dido  saw  it  she  called  to  Anna  her 
sister,  and  said,  "  Seest  thou  how  they  hasten  the 
work  along  the  shore?  Even  now  the  sails  are 
ready  for  the  winds,  and  the  sailors  have  wreathed 
the  ships  with  garlands,  as  if  for  departure.  Go 
thou — the  deceiver  always  trusted  thee,  and  thou 
knowest  how  best  to  move  him — go  and  entreat 
him.  I  harmed  not  him  nor  his  people;  let  him 
then  grant  me  this  only.  Let  him  wait  for  a 
fairer  time  for  his  journey.  I  ask  not  that  he 
give  up  his  purpose;  only  that  he  grant  me  a 
short  breathing  space,  till  I  may  learn  how  to 
bear  this  sorrow." 

And  Anna  hearkened  to  her  sister,  and  took 
the  message  to  JEneas,  yet  profited  nothing,  for 
the  Gods  shut  his  ears  that  he  should  not  hear. 
Even  as  an  oak  stands  firm  when  the  north  wind 
would  root  it  up  from  the  earth — its  leaves  are 
scattered  all  around,  yet  doth  it  remain  firm,  for 
its  roots  go  down  to  the  regions  below,  even  as 
far  as  its  branches  reach  to  heaven — so  stood 
/Eneas  firm,  and,  though  he  wept  many  tears, 
changed  not  his  purpose. 

Then  did  Dido  grow  weary  of  her  life.  For 
when  she  did  sacrifice,  the  pure  water  would 
grow  black  and  the  wine  be  changed  into  blood. 
Also  from  the  shrine  of  her  husband,  which  was 


72  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

in  the  midst  of  her  palace,  was  heard  a  voice  call- 
ing her,  and  the  owl  cried  aloud  from  the  house- 
top. And  in  her  dreams  the  cruel  Eneas  seemed 
to  drive  her  before  him;  or  she  seemed  to  be 
going  a  long  way  with  none  to  bear  her  company, 
and  be  seeking  her  own  people  in  a  land  that 
was  desert.  Therefore,  hiding  the  thing  that  was 
in  her  heart,  she  spake  to  her  sister,  saying,  "  I 
have  found  a.  way,  my  sister,  that  shall  bring  him 
back  to  me  or  set  me  free  from  him.  Near  the 
shore  of  the  Great  Sea,  where  the  Ethiopians 
dwell,  is  a  priestess,  who  guards  the  temple  of 
the  daughters  of  Hesperus,  being  wont  to  feed 
the  dragons  that  kept  the  apples  of  gold.  She  is 
able  by  her  charms  to  loose  the  heart  from  care 
or  to  bind  it,  and  to  stay  rivers  also,  and  to  turn 
the  courses  of  the  stars,  and  to  call  up  the  spirits 
of  the  dead.  Do  thou,  therefore — for  this  is 
what  the  priestess  commands — build  a  pile  in  the 
open  court,  and  put  thereon  the  sword  which  he 
left  hanging  in  our  chamber,  and  the  garments 
he  wore,  and  the  couch  on  which  he  lay,  even  all 
that  was  his,  so  that  they  may  perish  together." 
And  when  these  things  were  done — for  Anna 
knew  not  of  her  purpose — and  also  an  image  of 
Eneas  was  laid  upon  the  pile,  the  priestess,  with 
her  hair  unbound,  called  upon  all  the  gods  that 
dwell  below,  sprinkling  thereon  water  that  was 
drawn,  she  said,  from  the  lake  of  Avernus,  and 
scattering  evil  herbs  that  had  been  cut  at  the  full 
moon  with'  a  sickle  of  bronze.  Dido  also,  with 


THE   LOVE   AND   DEATH  OF  DIDO.  73 

one  foot  bare  and  her  garments  loosened,  threw 
meal  upon  the  fire  and  called  upon  the  Gods,  if 
haply  there  be  any,  that  look  upon  those  that  love 
and  suffer  wrong. 

In  the  meantime  ^Eneas  lay  asleep  in  the  hind 
part  of  his  ship,  when  there  appeared  to  him  in 
a  dream  the  god  Mercury,  even  as  he  had  seen 
him  when  he  brought  the  commandment  of 
Jupiter.  And  Mercury  spake,  saying,  "  Son  of 
Venus,  canst  thou  sleep?  seest  thou  not  what 
perils  surround  thee,  nor  hearest  how  the  favor- 
able west  wind  calls?  The  queen  purposes  evil 
against  thee.  If  thou  lingerest  till  the  morning 
come  thou  wilt  see  the  shore  covered  with  them 
that  wish  thee  harm.  Fly,  then,  and  tarry  not; 
for  a  woman  is  ever  of  many  minds." 

Then  did  ^neas  in  great  fear  start  from  his 
sleep,  and  call  his  companions,  saying,  "  Wake, 
and  sit  on  the  benches,  and  loose  the  sails.  'Tis 
a  god  thus  bids  us  fly."  And  even  as  h'e  spake 
he  cut  the  cable  with  his  sword.  And  all  hasted 
to  follow  him,  and  sped  over  the  sea. 

And  now  it  was  morning,  and  Queen  Dido, 
from  her  watch-tower,  saw  the  ships  upon  the  sea. 
Then  she  smote  upon  her  breast  and  tore  her  hair, 
and  cried,  "  Shall  this  stranger  mock  us  thus  ? 
Hasten  to  follow  him.  Bring  down  the  ships 
from  the  docks,  make  ready  sword  and  fire.  And 
this  was  the  man  who  bare  upon  his  shoulders  his 
aged  father!  Why  did  I  not  tear  him  to  pieces, 
and  slay  his  companions  with  the  sword,  and  serve 


74:  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

up  the  young  Ascanius  at  his  meal  ?  And  if  I  had 
perished,  what  then  ?  for  I  die  to-day.  0  Sun,  that 
regardest  all  the  earth  and  Juno,  that  carest  for 
marriage  bonds,  and  Hecate,  Queen  of  the  dead, 
and  ye  Furies  that  take  vengeance  on  evildoers, 
hear  me.  If  it  be  ordered  that  he  reach  this  land, 
yet  grant  that  he  suffer  many  things  from  his 
enemies,  and  be  driven  from  his  city,  and  beg  for 
help  from  strangers,  and  see  his  people  cruelly 
slain  with  the  sword;  and,  when  he  shall  have 
made  peace  on  ill  conditions,  that  he  enjoy  not 
long  his  kingdom,  but  die  before  his  day,  and  lie 
unburied  on  the  plain.  And  ye,  men  of  Tyre, 
hate  his  children  and  his  people  for  ever.  Let 
there  be  no  love  or  peace  between  you.  And  may 
some  avenger  arise  from  my  grave  who  shall  per- 
secute the  race  of  Dardanus  with  fire  and  sword. 
So  shall  there  be  war  for  ever  between  him  and 
me." 

Then  she  spake  to  old  Barce,  who  had  been 
nurse  to  her  husband  Sichasus,  "  Bid  my  sister 
bathe  herself  in  water,  and  bring  with  her  beasts 
for  sacrifice.  And  do  thou  also  put  a  garland 
about  thy  head,  for  I  am  minded  to  finish  this 
sacrifice  which  I  have  begun,  and  to  burn  the 
image  of  the  man  of  Troy." 

And  when  the  old  woman  made  haste  to  do  her 
bidding,  Queen  Dido  ran  to  the  court  where  the 
pile  was  made  for  the  burning,  and  mounted  on 
the  pile,  and  drew  the  sword  of  yEneas  from  the 
scabbard.  Then  did  she  throw  herself  upon  the 


THE   LOVE   AND   DEATH   OF   DIDO.  75 

bed,  and  cry,  "  Now  do  I  yield  up  my  life.  I 
have  finished  my  course.  I  have  built  a  mighty 
city.  I  have  avenged  my  husband  on  him  that 
slew  him.  Happy  had  I  been,  yea  too  happy! 
had  the  ships  cf  Troy  never  come  to  this  island." 
Then  she  kissed  the  bed  and  cried,  "  Shall  I  die 
unavenged?  Nevertheless  let  me  die.  The  man 
of  Troy  shall  see  this  fire  from  the  sea  whereon 
he  journeys,  and  carry  with  him  an  augury  of 
death." 

And  when  her  maidens  looked,  lo !  she  had  fal- 
len upon  the  sword,  and  the  blood  was  upon  her 
hands.  And  a  great  cry  went  up  through  the  pal- 
ace, exceeding  loud  and  bitter,  even  as  if  the 
enemy  had  taken  Carthage  or  ancient  Tyre,  and 
the  fire  were  mounting  over  the  dwellings  of  men 
and  of  Gods.  And  Anna  her  sister  heard  it,  and 
rushing  through  the  midst  called  her  by  name,  "  0 
my  sister,  was  this  th'y  purpose?  Were  the  pile 
and  the  sword  and  the  fire  for  this?  Why 
wouldst  thou  not  suffer  that  I  should  die  with 
thee?  For  surely,  my  sister,  thou  hast  slain  thy- 
self, and  me,  and  thy  people,  and  thy  city.  But 
give  me  water,  ye  maidens,  that  I  may  wash  her 
wounds,  and  if  there  be  any  breath  left  in  her, 
we  may  yet  stay  it." 

Then  she  climbed  on  to  the  pile,  and  caught 
her  sister  in  her  arms,  and  sought  to  staunch  the 
blood  with  her  garments.  Three  times  did  Dido 
strive  to  raiee  her  eyes;  three  times  did  her  spirit 
leave  her.  Three  times  she  would  have  raised  her- 


76  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

self  upon  her  elbow;  three  times  she  fell  back 
upon  the  bed,  looking  with  wandering  eyes  for  the 
light,  and  groaning  that  she  yet  beheld  it. 

Then  Juno,  looking  down  from  heaven,  saw 
that  her  pain  was  long,  and  pitied  her,  and  sent 
down  Iris,  her  messenger,  that  she  might  loose 
the  soul  that  struggled  to  be  free.  For,  seeing 
that  she  died  not  by  nature,  nor  yet  by  the  hand 
of  man,  but  before  her  time  and  of  her  own  mad- 
ness, Queen  Proserpine  had  not  shred  the  ringlet 
fronl  her  head  which  she  shreds  from  them  that 
die.  Wherefore  Iris,  flying  down  with  dewy 
wings  from  heaven,  with  a  thousand  colors 
about  her  from  the  light  of  the  sun,  stood  above 
her  head  and  said,  "  I  give  thee  to  death,  even  as 
I  am  bidden,  and  loose  thee  from  thy  body/' 
Then  she  shred  the  lock,  and  Queen  Dido  gave  up 
the  ghost. 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE   FUNERAL   GAMES   OF  ANCHISES. 

Now  were  ^neas  and  the  men  of  Troy  far  from 
land.  And  looking  back  they  saw  a  great  light, 
nor  knew  what  it  might  be ;  only  they  feared  some 
evil  hap,  knowing  the  rage  that  was  in  Dido's 
heart,  and  what  a  woman  in  her  madness  may  do. 
And  indeed  the  people  of  the  queen  were  burning 
her  body  on  the  pile  which  she  had  made. 

But  lo  !  the  sky  grew  dark  overhead,  and  there 
were  signs  as  of  a  great  storm.  And  Palinurus, 
the  pilot,  cried  from  the  stern,  where  he  stood 
with  the  rudder  in  his  hand,  "  What  mean  these 
clouds  ?  What  doest  thou,  Father  Neptune  ? " 
And  he  bade  the  men  clear  the  decks  and  put  out 
the  oars  to  row,  and  shift  the  sails  to  the  wind. 
Then  he  spake  to  ^Eneas,  saying,  "  Italy  we  may 
not  hope  to  reach  with  this  weather.  No,  not 
though  Jupiter  himself  promise  it  to  us.  But  if 
I  remember  me  aright,  the  havens  of  Sicily  are  at 
hand,  wherefore  let  us  turn  our  course  thither." 

And  ./Eneas  answered,  "  It  is  well :  for  I  see 
that  the  winds  are  contrary  to  us.  And,  of  a 
truth,  there  is  no  land  whither  I  would  more 
gladly  go,  seeing  that  my  father  Anchises  is 
buried  there." 

77 


78  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

Then  they  shifted  their  course,  and  let  their 
ships  run  before  the  wind,  and  so  caine  with  much 
speed  to  the  land  of  Sicily.  Now  Acestes,  who 
was  king  of  the  land,  was  the  son  of  a  woman  of 
Troy,  and,  seeing  them  from  a  hill-top,  he  came 
to  meet  them,  having  the  skin  of  a  lion  on  hU 
shoulders  and  a  javelin  in  his  hand,  and  refreshed 
them  with  food  and  drink. 

The  next  day  at  dawn  ^Eneas  called  the  men  of 
Troy  together,  and  spake,  saying,  "  It  is  a  full 
year  since  we  buried  my  father  in  this  land,  and 
this,  if  I  err  not,  is  the  very  day:  which  I  will 
that  we  keep  holy  with  festival;  for  such,  indeed, 
would  I  do  were  I  wandering  in  the  wilderness 
of  Africa  or  shut  up  in  Mycenaa  itself.  'Now, 
therefore,  seeing  that  we  are  in  a  land  that  is 
friendly  to  us,  let  us  keep  it  with'  solemnity.  And 
let  us  vow  also  that  we  will  keep  it  year  by  yeav 
in  the  land  of  Italy,  if  so  be  that,  having  pros- 
perous winds,  we  shall  come  thereunto.  Likewise, 
King  Acestes  gives  to  us  oxen,  for  every  ship  two ; 
wherefore  make  merry  and  rejoice.  And  if  the 
ninth  day  from  this  be  fair,  I  will  that  there  bo 
games  of  running  in  a  race,  and  of  throwing  the 
javelin,  and  of  shooting  with  the  bow,  and  of  box- 
ing, and  the  like.  And  now  make  ready  for  the 
sacrifice." 

Then  he  put  upon  his  head  a  wreath  of  his 
mother's  myrtle.  And  old  Acestes  did  the  like, 
and  the  boy  Ascanius,  and  the  others.  Then  he 
came  near  to  the  tomb  of  his  father,  and  poured 


THE   FUXERAL   GAMES   OF   ANCHISES.       79 

out  two  cups  of  wine  and  two  of  new  milk,  and 
scattered  flowers,  and  said,  "  Hail  to  thee,  my 
father,  whom*  the  Gods  suffered  not  to  enter  with 
me  into  the  land  of  Italy." 

And  even  -as  he  spake  there  came  forth  a  great 
snake  from  the  depth  of  the  tomb.  Seven  coils 
he  had,  and  on  his  body  were  spots  of  blue  and 
gold,  and  as  many  colors  as  are  the  colors  of  the 
rainbow  in  the  clouds.  And  when  ^Eneas  stood 
astonied,  lo !  the  snake  passed  between  the  altars 
and  tasted  of  the  sacrifice'  and  of  that  which  had 
been  poured  out.  And  ^neas,  doubting  what  this 
might  be,  made  fresh  offerings,  two  sheep,  and 
two  swine,  and  two  black  oxen,  calling  on  the 
spirit  of  Anchises.  And  the  men  of  Troy  also 
brought  gifts,  and  slew  oxen  for  sacrifice,  and 
feasted  on  the  flesh,  roasting  it  with  fire. 

And  now  the  ninth  day  was  come,  and  the  sky 
was  fair.  Great  was  the  concourse  of  people,  for 
the  name  of  King  Acestes  was  famous  in  the  land. 
Also  many  came  to  see  the  men  of  Troy,  and  some 
to  strive  in  the  games.  First  were  the  prizes  put 
in  the  midst,  three-footed  tables  for  sacrifices,  and 
crowns,  and  palms,  and  weapons,  and  purple  gar- 
ments, and  talents  of  gold  and  silver;  and  then 
the  trumpet  sounded  and  called  the  people  to- 
gether. 

And  first  of  all  was  the  race  of  ships.  Four 
were  they  that  strove  together,  Mnestheus  with  the 
Sea-Horse,  and  Gyas  with  the  Chimsera,  and  Ser- 
gestus  with'  the  Centaur,  and  Cloanthus  with  the 


80  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

Scylla.  Now  far  out  in  the  sea  was  a  rock,  which 
is  covered  by  the  waves  when  the  sea  is  rough,  but 
stands  above  them  if  it  be  calm,  and  upon  it  the 
cormorants  love  to  bask.  Here  did  ^Eneas  set  a 
young  tree,  a  holm-oak,  as  a  goal,  that  the  ships 
should  round  it  and  so  return.  First  they  cast 
lots  for  places,  and  the  captains  stood  upon  the 
sterns,  in  purple  and  gold,  and  the  rowers  had 
garlands  of  honor  about  their  heads  and  were 
anointed  with  oil.  Thus  they  sat  upon  the 
benches,  holding  the  oars  for  a  stroke,  and  their 
hearts  beat  high  with  hope.  And  when  the 
trumpet  sounded  each  ship  leapt  from  its  place, 
and  the  sea  foamed  with  the  strokes  of  many  oars. 
And  all  the  people  shouted  aloud,  having  favor 
for  this  or  for  that  of  the  captains.  And  first  of 
all  came  Gyas  with  the  Chimaera,  and  next  to  him 
Cloanthus  with  the  Scylla,  for  his  men  were  in- 
deed the  stronger,  but  the  ship  more  heavy.  And 
after  the  Scylla  came  the  Sea-Horse  and  the  Cen- 
taur at  equal  speed,  now  this  one  being  foremost 
and  now  that.  But  when  they  were  now  come 
near  the  rock,  Gyas,  being  in  the  first  place,  cried 
to  his  helmsman  Mencetes,  "  Why  goest  tliou  over- 
much to  the  right  ?  Keep  thou  close  to  the  rock. 
Let  others  choose  the  sea  if  they  will."  But 
Mencetes,  fearing  the  hidden  rocks,  turned  ever 
the  prow  to  the  sea.  Then  a  second  time  cried 
Gyas,  "  Make  for  the  rock,  Mencetes."  And  as  he 
spake,  the  Scylla  now  came  near,  taking  the  inner 
course  between  the  rock  and  his  ship,  and  passed 


THE   FUNERAL  GAMES   OF   ANCHISES.        81 

him  by.  Then  was  he  greatly  wroth  and  wept  for 
rage ;  and  laying  hold  of  Mencetes  he  cast  him  into 
the  sea,  and  himself  put  his  hand  to  the  helm  and 
turned  it  to  the  rock.  But  Mencetes,  being  an  old 
man  and  weighed  down  with  his  garments,  hardly 
climbed  upon  the  rock  and  sat  thereon.  Loud 
laughed  the  men  to  see  him  fall,  and  swim,  and 
vomit  the  salt  water  from  his  mouth.  But  when 
Mnestheus  with  the  Sea-Horse,  and  Scrgestus 
with  the  Centaur,  saw  what  had  befallen,  they 
hoped  to  pass  the  Chimasra  in  the  race.  Eagerly 
strove  the  two  together,  and  Mnestheus,  seeing 
that  the  Centaur  wa/s  yet  before  him  in  the  race, 
ran  among  his  men  as  they  rowed,  crying,  "  0  my 
friends  whom  I  chose  to  be  my  comrades,  quit  ye 
like  men,  even  as  ye  did  in  the  seas  of  Africa  and 
the  Ionian  waves.  The  first  place  I  seek  not,  but 
last  I  would  not  return."  And  the  men  strove 
with  all  their  might,  bending  forward  to  the 
stroke.  And  even  then  chance  gave  them  that 
which  they  desired.  For  the  Centaur,  being 
steered  too  close,  struck  on  a  jutting  piece  of  the 
rock,  and  the  oars  were  broken,  and  the  prow  stuck 
fast.  And  while  the  men,  with  poles  and  the 
like,  were  thrusting  her  forth,  Mnestheus  with  the 
Sea-Horse  had  gained  the  open  sea.  And  first 
he  overtakes  Gyas  in  the  Chimera,  and  vanquishes 
it,  .seeing  that  it  had  lost  its  helmsman.  And 
now  only  Cloanthus  with  the  Scylla  remains,  and 
upon  him  also  he  presses  hard.  Then  did  all  the 
people  cry  aloud,  bidding  Mnestheus  make  good 
ri 


82  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

speed  that  he  might  take  the  first  place.  And  the 
one  were  loath  to  lo«£  that  which  they  had  gained, 
and  the  others  having  done  much  would  do  yet 
more,  and  would  give  their  lives  so  that  they 
might  prevail.  And  now,  perchance,  had  the  two 
been  equal  for  the  first  prize,  hut  Cloanthus 
stretched  forth  his  hands  to  the  sea  and  prayed 
to  the  Gods  that  have  power  therein.  "  Gods  of 
the  sea,  wherein  I  hold  my  course,  help  me  now, 
so  will  I  slay  a  milk-white  bull  at  your  altars,  and 
cast  the  entrails  into  the  waves,  and  pour  clear 
wine  therewith."  And  all  the  band  of  the  Nereids 
heard  him,  and  the  virgin  Panopea ;  and  Portum- 
nus  himself  with  mighty  hand  drave  the  vessel 
forward  swifter  than  the  south  wind  or  an  arrow 
from  the  bow,  so  that  it  first  totfched  the  shore. 
Then  a  herald  cried  aloud  that  Cloanthus  with  the 
Scylla  had  won  the  mastery  in  the  race,  and  bound 
a  garland  of  bay  about  his  head.  Then  to  the 
rowers  ^Eneas  gave  three  oxen,  and  jars  of  wine, 
and  a  talent  of  silver;  and  to  the  captains  gifts 
for  themselves;  to  the  first  a  scarf  broidcred  with 
gold  with  a  double  border  of  purple,  and  on  it  was 
wrought  the  royal  boy  Ganymede,  as  he  hunted 
on  Mount  Ida.  Eager  was  he,  and  as  one  that 
panted  in  the  chase;  but  on  the  other  side  the 
eagle  bare  him  away,  and  the  old  men  that  had 
charge  of  him  stretched  out  their  hands  and  the 
dogs  barked  fiercely  to  the  sky.  And  to  the  sec- 
ond ^Eneas  gave  a  hauberk  of  chain-mail  with 
rings  of  gold,  which  he  had  himself  taken  from 


THE   FUNERAL  GAMES   OF   ANCHISES.        83 

Demoleon  by  the  river  of  Simo'is.  Scarce  could 
his  two  servants  carry  it,  so  heavy  was  it;  yet 
Demoleon  had  worn  it,  and  chased  the  men  of 
Troy,  running  at  full  speed.  And  the  third  prize 
was  two  cauldrons  of  bronze  and  cups  of  silver  em- 
bossed. But  when  all  had  departed  rejoicing 
with  their  gifts,  lo!  Sergestus  came  creeping 
home  with  his  ship,  which  he  had  scarce  won  from, 
the  rocks,  disabled,  with  one  tier  of  rowers,  even 
as  a  serpent  which'  a  wheel  has  maimed  upon  the 
road,  which  with  his  fore  part  lifts  himself  up 
and  threatens,  but  his  hind  part  trails  upon  the 
ground.  So  came  Sergestus  back  to  the  haven, 
and  to  him  tineas  gave  also  his  reward,  seeing 
that  he  had  brought  back  ship  and  crew,  even  a 
woman  of  Crete,  Pholoe  by  name,  very  skilful  in 
the  work  of  the  loom. 

After  this  ^Eneas  chose  him  out  a  level  space, 
with  woods  about  it,  and  having  sat  down  in  the 
midst  upon  a  throne,  caused  it  to  be  proclaimed 
that  all  should  come  who  would  contend  together 
in  running.  And  many  came,  both  men  of  Troy 
and  Sicilians.  First  of  all  Euryalus,  a  comely 
youth,  and  Nisus  with  him  (now  between  these 
two  was  great  love)  ;  next,  Diores,  of  the  house  of 
Priam,  then  Salius  and  Patron,  Greeks  both  of 
them;  and  two  young  hunters,  Helymus  and 
Panopes,  who  were  of  Sicily  and  of  the  court  of 
Acestes,  and  many  others  also.  Then  said  yEnea?, 
"  To  each  will  I  give  two  javelins  of  Crete  and  an 
ax  ornamented  with  silver,  so  that  none  may  de- 


84  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

part  without  a  gift.  Aiid  the  first  three  shall 
have  crowns  of  olive.  Also  to  the  first  will  1  give 
a  horse  with  his  furniture,  and  to  the  second  a 
quiver  after  the  fashion  of  the  Amazons,  with  ar- 
rows of  Thrace,  and  to  fasten  it  a  belt  embossed 
with  gold,  and  a  jewel  for  a  clasp  thereon.  And 
let  the  third  take  this  helmet  of  Greece,  and  be 
content." 

Then,  when  they  had  ranged  them  in  a  line,  and 
the  sign  was  given,  they  ran.  And  for  a  while  all 
were  near  together.  Then  ISasus  outran  the  rest; 
and  next  to  him  was  Salius,  but  with  a  great 
space  between,  and  the  third  Euryalus ;  and  after 
him  Belymus,  and  Diores  pressing  close  upon 
him,  even  leaning  over  his  shoulder  and  ready 
to  outrun  him  had  the  course  been  longer.  And 
now  were  they  at  the  very  end,  when  Nisus 
slipped  in  the  blood  of  an  ox  which  chanced  to 
have  been  slain  in  the  place,  and  kept  not  his  feet, 
but  fell,  fouling  himself  with  blood  and  mire. 
Yet  did  he  not  forget  Euryalus  whom  he  loved, 
but  lifted  himself  from  the  ground  and  tripped 
Salius,  so  that  he  also  rolled  upon  the  earth.  So 
came  Euryalus  first  to  the  post,  and  Helymus 
next,  and  Diores  the  third.  But  Salius  made  loud 
complaint  to  all  the  assembly,  great  and  small, 
that  he  had  been  vanquished  by  fraud;  yet  the 
people  favored  Euryalus,  for  he  was  fair  to  look 
iipon,  and  fairness  ever  commendeth  virtue.  Also 
Diores  was  urgent,  who  else  had  not  won  the  third 
prize.  Then  said  Father  J^neus,  "I  change  not 


THE   FUNERAL  GAMES   OF  ANCHISES.       85 

the  order;  as  each  reached  the  goal  so  shall  each 
take  his  prize.  Yet  may  I  pity  him  who  suffered 
wrongfully."  And  he  gave  to  Salius  the  great 
skin  of  an  African  lion,  with  shaggy  hair  and 
claws  covered  with  gold.  Then  said  Nisus,  "  Yet, 
if  thou  givest  such  prizes  to  the  vanquished  and 
hast  such  pity  on  them  that  fall,  what  hast  thou 
for  me?  For  surely  I  had  won  the  first  reward 
but  for  the  ill  fortune  which  Salius  also  accuseth." 
And  he  showed  his  face  and  body  foul  with  mire. 
And  the  kindly  prince  laughed,  and  gave  him  a 
shield,  the  work  of  Didyrnaon. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

THE  FUNERAL  GAMES    (CONTINUED). 

THEN  did  ^Eneas  offer  rewards  for  boxers:  for 
the  conqueror  an  ox  with  gilded  horns;  for  the 
vanquished  a  sword  and  helmet.  Straightway 
rose  up  the  huge  Dares,  who  only  had  daxed  to 
stand  in  the  lists  against  Prince  Paris,  and  also  at 
the  funeral  games  of  Hector  had  vanquished 
Butes,  hurting  him  so  sore  that  he  died.  (This 
Butes,  was  of  the  race  of  Amycus,  the  great  boxer 
whom  Pollux  slew,  and  no  man  had  stood  before 
him.)  But  when  they  saw  the  broad  shonilders  of 
the  man  and  his  might  there  was  not  found  one 
to  contend  with  him.  Therefore  Dares  came  near 
to  ^neas,  and,  laying  his  left  hand  on  the  horns 
of  the  ox,  spake,  saying,  "  If  there  be  no  man  to 
stand  against  me,  why  do  I  tarry  ?  Bid  them  bring 
the  prize."  Thereupon  Acestes  rebuked  Entellus, 
who  sat  near  him  upon  the  grass :  "  Sufferest  thou 
such  gifts  to  be  taken  without  contest?  What  of 
Eryx,  thy  master  ?  What  of  thy  fame,  which  hath 
gone  through  all  the  knd  of  Sicily,  and  the  spoils 
that  hang  in  thy  house  ?  " 

Then  said  Entellus,  "Think  not,  Acestes,  that 
I  am  fearful,  or  careless  of  honor.  But  I  am 
86 


THE   FUNERAL  GAMES   OF   ANCHISES.        87 

old:  my  strength  is  gone  from  me.  Were  I  young, 
as  that  boaster  yonder,  I  had  not  waited  for  gifts 
that  I  should  go  forth  to  the  battle/' 

Then  cast  he  into  the  midst  two  gauntlets 
which  Eryx,  the  great  boxer,  had  been  wont  to 
wear.  And  all  men  marvelled  to  see  them,  so 
huge  were  they,  and  heavy  with  bull's  hide  and 
lead  and  iron.  And  Dares  stood  astonied,  nor 
would  stand  against  such  arms.  And  when 
^Eneas  regarded  them  and  tried  their  weight,  En- 
tellus  spake,  saying,  "  What  had  the  man  of  Troy 
said  had  he  seen  the  gauntlets  of  Hercules  himself, 
and  the  dreadful  battle  that  befell  on  this  very 
shore?  These  gauntlets  Eryx,  who  was  my 
mother's  son,  was  wont  to  wear:  thou  seest  them 
stained  yet  with  blood  and  brains,  and  I  also  was 
wont  to  wear  them  in  the  days  of  my  youth.  But 
if  Dares  liketh  them  not,  be  it  so;  I  put  them 
away,  and  he  shall  do  the  like  with  his." 

Then  he  threw  his  garment  from  his  shoulders, 
showing  his  mighty  arms  and  sinews.  And 
^Eneas  gave  the  two  equal  gauntlets,  and  they 
stood  with  heads  thrown  back,  and  began  the  bat- 
tle. Dares  indeed  was  swifter  to  move,  and  vig- 
orous, and  young;  and  Entellus  was  huge  of 
stature,  but  slow  and  scant  of  breath.  Many  blows 
they  aimed  at  each  other:  many  times  one  smote 
the  other  on  his  breast  or  his  cheek,  but  struck 
not  home.  And  ever  Entellus  abode  in  the  same 
place,  swaying  himself  hither  and  thither  with 
watchful  eyes.  But  Dares  was  as  ono  who  be- 


>>  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

sieges  a  city  or  a  fort  on  the  hills,  and  tries  now 
this  approach,  now  that,  and  searches  out  all  the 
place,  and  assails  it  in  many  ways.  But  at  the 
last  Entellus  lifted  his  right  hand  and  dealt  a 
mighty  blow,  which  the  other,  foreseeing  it  as  it 
fell,  avoided;  so  that  the  old  man  wasted  his 
strength  in  air,  and  fell  with  a  great  crash  to  the 
earth,  even  as  falls  a  pine  torn  up  by  the  roots  on 
Mount  Erymanthus  or  Mount  Ida.  Then  the 
men  of  Troy  and  the  men  of  Sicily  rose  up  from 
their  places  to  see  the  thing ;  Acestes  also  ran  for- 
ward and  lifted  up  the  old  man  from  the  earth 
and  would  have  comforted  him.  But  he  went 
back  in  great  wrath  to  the  battle,  anger  and  shame 
stirring  him  up.  And  Dares  fled  before  him  over 
the  plain,  and  he  followed  him,  smiting  him  now 
with  the  right  hand,  now  with  the  left,  and  his 
blows  were  as  the  hail  that  rattles  upon  the  roof. 
But  ^Eneas  bade  him  stay  his  anger,  and  spake 
kindly  to  Dares,  bidding  him  cease  from  the  bat- 
tle. "  Seest  thou  not  that  this  day  the  victory  is 
another's,  and  that  the  Gods  are  against  thee? 
Fight  not  against  the  Gods."  Then  he  com- 
manded that  the  battle  should  cease.  And  the 
companions  of  Dares  led  him  to  the  ships,  scarcely 
dragging  his  legs,  and  vomiting  thick  blood  from 
his  mouth,  and  teeth  in  the  blood.  Also  they  took 
the  shield  and  helmet  which  were  his  reward,  but 
the  palm-branch  and  the  ox  they  left  to  Entellus. 
Then  said  the  conqueror,  "  See,  son  of  the  goddess, 
and  ye  men  of  Troy,  what  strength  dwelt  in  this 


THE   FUNERAL  GAMES   OF  ANCHISES.       89 

body  while  I  was  yet  young,  and  from  what  a  death 
ye  have  saved  this  Dares.*'  Then  stood  he  over 
against  the  ox  and  smote  it  with  his  gauntlet  be- 
tween the  horns.  And  it  fell  dead  upon  the  earth. 
And  Entellus  cried  aloud,  "  0  Eryx,  I  offer  thee 
this  life  for  the  life  of  Dares,  being  indeed  the 
better  for  the  worse.  And  I  lay  aside  these  gaunt- 
lets and  this  art." 

Xext  -<Eneas  called  for  those  who  would  shoot 
with  the  bow,  setting  up  a  mast  from  the  ship  of 
Sergestus,  and  fastening  thereto  a  dove  by  a  cord, 
at  which  mark  were  all  to  shoot.  Then  came  the 
men  together  and  cast  lots,  drawing  them  from 
the  helmet.  And  first  came  Hippocoon,  son  of 
Hyrtacus;  and  next  to  him  Mjiestheus;  and  third 
Eurytion,  brother  of  Pandarus,  who  broke  the 
treaty  between  the  men  of  Troy  and  the  Greeks, 
shooting  his  arrow  at  Menelaiis;  but  the  lot  of 
Acest€s  lingered  in  the  helmet  and  le?pt  not  forth. 
Then  first  Hippocoon  drew  his  bow  and  smote  the 
mast  so  that  it  shook,  and  the  bird  fluttered  his 
wings  in  fear;  and  next  Mnestheus  shot  his  ar- 
row, and  the  bird  he  touched  not,  but  the  string 
which  bound  it  he  cut ;  and  Eurytion  let  fly,  call- 
ing the  while  on  his  brother  Pandarus,  the  mighty 
archer,  to  help  him,  and  smote  the  dove  as  she 
flew  rejoicing  through  the  air,  so  that  she  fell  to 
the  earth  and  the  arrow  in  her  body.  And  only 
Acestes  was  left,  not  having  whereat  he  should 
aim;  yet  shot  he  into  the  air,  for  he  would  show 
his  skill  and  the  might  of  his  bow.  Then  lo!  a 


90  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

marvel  befel,  whereof  in  after  days  men  knew  the 
fulfilment ;  for  the  arrow  burned  as  it  sped  through 
the  air,  leaving  a  line  of  fire,  till  it  was  altogether 
consumed,  even  as  a  star  that  shoots  across  the 
sky  by  night.  And  men  marveled  to  see  it,  and 
prayed  to  the  Gods  that  it  might  be  well.  Then 
great  .^Eneas  refused  not  the  omen,  but  embraced 
Acestes  and  gave  him  many  gifts,  saying,  "  Take 
these  gifts,  my  father,  for  Jupiter  willeth  that 
thou  shouldest  have  especial  honor  in  this  thing. 
I  give  thee,  therefore,  this  bowl  embossed  with 
figures  of  men.  Old  Anchises  had  it,  and  to  him 
Cisseus,  who  was  the  father  of  Queen  Hecuba, 
gave  it."  Also  he  put  a  crown  of  bay  upon  his 
head.  Nor  did  the  good  Eurytion  murmur, 
though  he  had  slain  the  bird;  the  others  also  had 
their  gifts  and  were  content. 

Not  even  now  was  the  assembly  dismissed,  there 
remaining  yet  another  sight  to  behold.  For  As- 
canius  and  the  youths  that  were  his  companions 
came  riding  on  horses,  and  each  had  a  wreath 
about  his  head.  Each  also  had  two  javelins  of 
cornel  wood,  and  some  had  quivers  on  their  shoul- 
ders, and  each  a  collar  of  gold  that  lay  on  the 
top  of  his  breast.  Three  companies  they  were, 
and  to  each  a  leader  and  twelve  that  followed. 
And  one  of  the  leaders  wasPriamus,son  of  Polite 3, 
called  by  the  name  of  his  grandfather,  on  a  horse 
that  was  black,  with  pasterns  of  white  and  forehead 
of  white ;  and  another  Atys,  whom  Ascanius  loved ; 
and  third,  fairest  of  all  to  behold,  Ascanius,  on  a 


THE   FUNERAL   GAMES   OF  ANCHTSES.        91 

horse  of  Sidon,  which  Queen  Dido  had  given  him ; 
but  to  the  rest  Acestes  had  given  horses  of  Sicily. 
And  when  these  came  forth  there  was  much 
shouting  and  clapping  of  hands,  and  the  men  of 
Troy  rejoiced  to  see  the  lads,  so  like  were  they  to 
the  famous  men  their  fathers.  Then,  a  signal 
being  given,  the  companies  were  divided  into 
bands,  and  these  made  as  if  they  fought  a  battle. 
For  sometimes  they  would  fly,  and  sometimes 
would  pursue,  and  sometimes  would  ride  alto- 
gether this  way  or  that.  Many  were  their  ways 
and  movements,  even  as  are  the  paths  of  the  Laby- 
rinth in  Crete.  Swift  also  were  they  and  nimble, 
even  as  dolphins  which  sport  among  the  waves  in 
the  Carpathian  Sea  or  African.  This  custom  did 
Ascanius  teach  to  his  people  when  he  built  the  city 
of  Alba,  and  the  men  of  Alba  taught  it  to  their 
children  after  them,  and  mighty  Rome  learnt  it 
also,  and  kept  it  in  the  time  to  come. 


CHAPTEK  XII. 

THE  BURNING  OF  THE  SHIPS — THE  VOYAGE  TO 
ITALY. 

BUT  while  the  men  of  Troy  were  busy  with 
the  games,  Juno  prepared  mischief  against  them 
in  her  heart,  and  sent  down  Iris,  her  messenger, 
to  accomplish  it.  Now  the  women  sat  apart  on 
the  shore,  and  lifted  up  their  voices  and  bewailed 
the  old  man  Anchises.  But  when  they  looked 
upon  the  sea  they  lamented  for  themselves  that 
they  had  so  much  travel  to  accomplish,  for  they 
were  weary  of  the  sea,  and  would  fain  have  a 
city  to  dwell  in.  Which  when  Iris  perceived,  lay- 
ing aside  the  semblance  of  a  goddess,  she  took 
upon  herself  the  form  of  Beroe,  the  wife  of  Dory- 
clus,  and  went  among  the  women  of  Troy  and 
spake,  saying,  "  0  unhappy,  that  ye  were  not 
dragged  to  death  by  the  hands  of  the  Greeks! 
For  now  the  seventh  summer  is  come,  and  yet 
we  journey  over  many  lands  and  seas  and  seek 
this  Italy  which  ever  flies  before  us.  Here  we 
have  friends  and  kindred.  What  forbids  that  we 
build  here  a  city?  Shall  I  never  see  the  walls 
of  another  Troy,  nor  find  Xanthus  and  Simoi's, 
rivers  of  Troy,  in  a  strange  laud?  Why  burn  we 

09 


THE   BURNING   OF   THE   SHIPS.  93 

not  these  accursed  ships  that  carry  us  hither  and 
thither?  I  saw  in  a  dream  the  seeress  Cassandra, 
and  she  seemed  to  put  a  torch  in  my  hand,  and 
to  say,  '  Here  seek  ye  for  Troy ;  here  is  your 
home.'  And  lo!  here  are  altars  and  fire." 

Then  she  caught  a  brand  from  an  altar,  and 
cast  it  far  from  her  at  the  ships.  Then  cried 
out  Pyrgo,  who  had  been  nurse  to  the  sons  of 
Priam,  "  0  mothers  of  Troy,  this  is  not  Beroe 
whom  ye  see.  Mark  ye  her  shining  eyes,  and  her 
voice,  and  her  gait.  But  as  for  Beroe  I  left  her 
long  since,  sick  and  sore  vexed  that  she  was  ab- 
sent this  day  from  our  solemnity." 

And  for  a  while  the  women  stood  in  doubt  re- 
garding the  ships,  loving  indeed  the  land  where- 
on they  stood,  yet  knowing  that  the  Fates  called 
them,  to  another.  But  when  the  goddess  rose  on 
her  wings,  and  passed  up  by  the  path  of  the 
rainbow  in  the  heavens,  then  a  great  fury  fell 
upon  them,  so  that  they  caught  brands  from  the 
altars  and  set  fire  to  the  ships.  And  straightway 
the  flames  ran  over  the  benches  and  the  oars  and 
the  stems  of  painted  pine.  Then  ran  Eumelus 
to  the  men  of  Troy  where  they  sat  at  the  games, 
and  told  them  how  the  ships  were  burning;  also 
they  themselves  saw  the  black  cloud  of  smoke 
rolling  before  the  wind.  And  Ascanius,  in  the 
midst  of  his  horsemanship,  heard  the  matter  and 
sped  to  the  camp.  And  being  come  he  cried  aloud, 
"  What  madness  is  this  ?  Ye  burn  not  the  camp 
of  the  Greeks,  ye  burn  our  own  hopes.  Lo!  I 


94  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

am  your  Xscanius."  And  he  threw  his  helmet 
on  the  ground,  that  they  should  know  him.  Also 
^Eneas  and  the  men  of  Troy  made  haste  to  come 
up.  Then  were  the  women  ashamed  of  that  which 
they  had  done,  and  would  have  hidden  themselves, 
their  fury  being  past.  But  not  the  more  did  the 
flame  cease  to  devour  the  ships;  and  they  who 
would  have  quenched  the  fire  availed  nothing. 
Then  the  pious  ^Eneas  rent  his  garments  and 
prayed  to  the  Gods,  saying,  "  0  Jupiter,  if  thou 
dost  not  altogether  hate  us,  save  our  ships  from 
the  fire,  and  suffer  us  not  to  perish  utterly;  but 
if  thou  art  angry,  and  so  it  seem  good  to  th'ee, 
slay  me  with  thy  thunderbolt." 

And  even  as  he  spake  there  came  up  a  great 
storm  from  the  south,  with  thunder  and  lightning 
and  a  great  rain,  and  the  fire  was  quenched,  but 
of  the  ships  four  were  burnt  altogether. 

Now  ^Eneas  was  sore  troubled  at  these  things, 
and  doubted  much  whether  he  should  still  abide 
in  the  land  of  Sicily  nor  heed  the  Fates,  or  should 
yet  follow  after  Italy.  Then  the  old  man,  N"autes, 
the  priest  of  Pallas,  in  whom  more  than  in  all 
men  besides  dwelt  the  wisdom  of  the  goddess, 
spake  to  him,  saying,  "  Son  of  the  goddess,  it 
must  needs  be  that  we  go  whither  the  Gods  call 
us.  Yet  mayest  thou  devise  something  for  this 
present  necessity,  taking  counsel  with  King 
Accstes,  seeing  that  he  also  is  a  son  of  Troy. 
For  now,  four  ships  being  burned,  the  people  are 
over  many  for  such  as  are  left  to  us;  some  also 


THE   BURNING  OF  THE   SHIPS.  95 

faint  at  this  thing  that  we  purpose;  also  there 
are  old  men  and  women  wearied  of  the  sea,  and 
the  weak  and  the  fearful.  Suffer,  then,  that  he 
take  these  to  himself  to  be  his  people  and  build 
a  city  for  them,  and  call  it  Acesta,  after  his  own 
name." 

And  while  ^Eneas  thought  on  these  things  he 
slept.  And  lo!  in  his  dream  there  came  to  him 
his  father,  Anchises,  and  spake,  saying,  "  I  come, 
my  son,  at  the  bidding  of  Jupiter.  Take  thou 
heed  to  the  counsel  which  Nautes  giveth  thee, 
for  it  is  good.  Let  the  chosen  youth  of  thy  peo- 
ple go  with  thee,  for  thou  hast  a  mighty  people 
and  a  fierce  in  Latium  with  whom  to  do  battle. 
But  first  must  thou  seek  the  dwellings  of  the  dead 
and  hold  converse  with  me.  For  indeed  I  dwell 
not  in  Tartarus,  with  the  evil-doers,  but  in  Ely- 
sium, with  the  companies  of  the  blessed.  And 
thither  shall  the  Sibyl  guide  thee,  and  thou  shalt 
learn  all  that  shall  befall  thee  and  thy  people 
after  this.  And  now  farewell,  for  the  morning 
cometh,  and  I  must  depart." 

And  the  spirit  of  Anchises  vanished  out  of  his 
sight,  even  as  smoke  into  the  air,  nor  heeded  him 
when  he  would  have  stayed  it;  and  ^Eneas  arose 
and  did  sacrifice  to  the  household  gods  and  to 
Vesta.  Then  he  took  counsel  with  his  compan- 
ions and  with  Acestes.  And  Acestes  hearkened 
to  his  words.  And  they  separated  such'  as  would 
tarry  in  the  place,  both  men  and  women;  but  the 
others,  few  in  number  indeed,  but  strong  and  of 


96  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

a  good  courage,  made  ready  the  ships  to  depart. 
And  in  the  meantime  ./Eneas  marked  the  bound- 
aries of  the  city  with  a  plowshare,  and  Acestes 
set  it  in  order  with  laws  and  government.  Also 
on  the  mountain  of  Eryx  they  built  a  temple  to 
Venus,  and  they  consecrated  a  grove  and  a  priest 
at  the  tomb  of  Anchises. 

Then  for  nine  days  they  feasted;  and  after, 
for  it  was  fine  weather,  and  the  south  wind  blew 
softly,  they  made  ready  to  sail.  There  was  then 
a  great  weeping  and  embracing  on  the  shore;  and 
now  were  all  fain  to  go,  willing  not  to  be  parted 
from  kindred  and  friends.  But  ^Eneas  comforted 
them,  and,  having  sacrificed  three  calves  to  Eryx 
and  a  lamb  to  the  Storms,  so  departed. 

And  Venus  spake  to  Neptune,  saying,  "  It 
troubleth  me  sore  that  Juno  will  not  lay  aside 
her  wrath.  For  the  city  of  Troy  she  overthrew, 
and,  it  being  overthrown,  she  pursueth  them  that 
are  left  with  hatred  that  cannot  be  appeased;  and 
now  I  fear  me  much  what  she  may  do,  for  she 
stirred  up  ^Eolus  that  he  loosed  all  the  winds 
against  them;  and  even  now  she  put  into  the 
hearts  of  the  women  this  great  madness  that  they 
should  burn  the  ships.  Wherefore  I  pray  thee 
that  thou  shouldst  give  them  now  a  safe  voyage 
to  Italy."  And  the  King  of  the  sea  made  answer, 
"  Thou  doest  well  to  put  thy  trust  in  my  realms 
and  me.  For  both  have  I  stilled  the  madness  of 
the  sea  and  also  on  the  land  have  I  taken  thought 
for  thy  /Eneas.  Mindest  thou  not  the  day  when 


THE  VOYAGE  TO  ITALY.  97 

Achilles  pursued  the  men  of  Troy  to  their  city, 
and  filled  the  rivers  with  dead  bodies,  so  that 
Xanthus  could  not  make  his  way  to  the  sea,  and 
how  ^Eneas  would  have  met  him  in  battle,  being 
weaker,  and  I  snatched  him  away  in  a  cloud,  yea 
though  I  desired  from  my  heart  to  overthrow  the 
city  of  Troy,  even  the  works  of  my  own  hands? 
Fear  not,  therefore:  he  shall  come  safe  to  the 
haven  of  Avernus.  One  only  of  his  company 
must  perish,  even  one  life  for  many." 

Then  did  he  pass  over  the  sea  in  his  chariot, 
and  there  was  a  great  calm  as  he  went,  and  the 
clouds  flew  from  the  sky,  and  the  great  beasts 
of  the  sea  went  with  him;  also  the  gods  and  god- 
desses of  the  sea,  as  Glaucus  and  Pala3mon,  and 
the  company  of  the  Tritons  and  Thetis  and  the 
virgin  Panopea. 

And  the  men  of  Troy  loosed  the  sheets,  and 
spread  all  the  sails  to  the  wind;  and  the  fore- 
most of  the  fleet  was  the  ship  of  ^Eneas,  Palin- 
urus  being  the  helmsman.  And  in  the  night  Sleep 
came  down  from  the  sky,  and  taking  the  shape 
of  Phorbas,  spake  to  Palinurus,  saying,  "  All 
things  are  quiet;  rest  awhile:  it  is  the  hour  of 
rest.  I  will  take  thy  office  for  thee."  But  Paliu- 
urus,  scarce  lifting  his  eyes,  made  answer :  "  Dost 
thou  bid  me  trust  calm  seas  and  gentle  winds? 
Not  so.  Too  often  have  I  been  deceived."  Nor 
did  he  loose  his  hold  upon  the  rudder,  or  take 
his  eyes  from  the  stars.  Then  did  Sleep  wave 
over  him  a  bough  that  had  been  dipped  in  the 


98  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

water  of  Lethe;  and  when  he  slept,  as  he  must 
needs  do,  thrust  him  into  the  sea  and  a  portion 
of  the  rudder  with  him;  and  he  fell,  calling 
vainly  for  help. 

And  when  the  ships  were  close  to  the  rocks  of 
the  Sirens,  which  in  old  time  were  white  with 
bones  of  men,  but  now  with  spray  and  broken 
waves,  yEneas  perceived  that  the  ship  strayed 
from  its  course.  For  indeed,  seeing  that  the 
helmsman  had  perished,  the  winds  and  the  waves 
had  their  will  of  it.  Then  did  he  lay  hold  on 
the  rudder  himself,  but  it  grieved  him  much  that 
such  mischance  had  befallen  his  friend. 


THE    Cl'MKAN    SlIlYL. 

Michael  Angela.     Sistine  Chapel. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

THE  SIBYL. 

So  ^Eneas  came  to  the  land  of  Italy,  nigh 
unto  Cumae,  which  was  the  dwelling-place  of  the 
Sibyl.  And  the  men  turned  the  forepart  of  the 
ships  to  the  sea,  and  made  them  fast  with  an- 
chors. Then  they  leapt  forth  upon  the  shore, 
and  kindled  a  fire;  and  some  cut  wood  in  the 
forest,  or  fetched  water  from  the  stream.  But 
-^Eneas  went  up  to  the  great  cave  of  the  Sibyl, 
where,  by  the  inspiration  of  Apollo,  she  fore- 
telleth  things  to  come. 

Now  the  temple  was  a  marvelous  place  to  look 
upon.  For  Dadalus,  when  he  fled  from  Minos, 
King  of  Crete,  flying  through  the  air  upon  wings, 
came  northwards  to  the  land  of  Cumae,  and  tar- 
ried there.  Also  he  dedicated  his  wings  in  the 
temple.  On  the  doors  thereof  was  set  forth, 
graven  in  stone,  the  death  of  Androgeos,  and  the 
men  of  Attica  choosing  by  lot  seven  of  their  chil- 
dren who  should  be  given  as  a  ransom  yearly; 
and,  rising  from  the  sea  upon  the  other  side,  the 
land  of  Crete.  Likewise  the  Labyrinth  was  there 
and  its  winding  ways;  but  Icarus  they  saw  not, 
for  when  his  father  would  have  wrought  the  man- 

99 


100  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

ner  of  his  death  in  gold  his  hands  failed  him: 
twice  he  strove  and  twice  they  failed.  And  when 
vEneas  would  have  looked  further,  the  priestess 
said,  "  Linger  not  with  these  things,  but  slay 
forthwith'  seven  bullocks  from  the  herd,  and  seven 
sheep  duly  chosen  out  of  the  flock.''  And  when 
they  came  to  the  cave — now  there  are  a  hundred 
doors,  and  a  voice  cometh  forth  from  each — the 
Sibyl  cried,  "  It  is  time.  Lo  !  the  god,  the  god !  " 
And  even  as  she  spake  her  look  was  changed  and 
the  color  of  her  face;  also  her  hair  was  loosened, 
and  her  breast  panted,  and  she  waxed  greater 
than  is  the  stature  of  a  man.  Then  she  cued, 
"  Delayest  thou  to  pray,  ^Eneas  of  Troy  ?  delayest 
thou  ?  for  the  doors  open  not  but  to  prayer."  Nor 
said  she  more.  Then  ./Eneas  prayed,  saying,  "  0 
Phoebus,  who  didst  always  pity  the  sorrows  of 
Troy,  and  didst  guide  the  arrow  of  Paris  that  it 
slew  the  great  Achilles,  I  have  followed  thy  bid- 
ding, journeying  over  many  lands,  and  now  I  lay 
hold  on  this  shore  of  Italy,  which  ever  seemed 
to  fly  before  me.  Grant  thou  that  our  ill  fortune 
follow  us  no  more.  And  all  ye  Gods  and  God- 
desses who  loved  not  Troy,  be  merciful  to  us. 
And  thou,  0  Prophetess,  give,  if  it  may  be,  such 
answer  as  I  would  hear.  So  will  I  and  my  peo- 
ple honor  thee  forever.  And  write  it  not,  I  pray 
thee,  upon  leaves,  lest  the  winds  carry  them  away, 
but  speak  with  thy  voice." 

And  for  awhile  the  prophetess  strove  against 
the  spirit;  but  at  the  last  it  mastered  her,  and 


THE   SIBYL.  101 

the  doors  flew  open,  and  she  spake,  saying,  "  The 
perils  of  the  sea  thou  hast  escaped,  but  there 
await  thee  yet  worse  perils  upon  the  land.  The 
men  of  Troy  shall  come  to  the  kingdom  of 
Lavinium.  Fear  not  for  that;  yet  will  they  fain 
not  have  come.  I  see  battles,  and  the  Tiber 
loaming  with  blood,  and  a  new  Xanthus  and 
Simois,  and  another  Achilles,  himself  also  god- 
dess-born. Juno  also  shall  be  ever  against  thee. 
And  thou  shalt  be  a  suppliant  to  many  cities. 
And  the  cause  of  all  these  woes  shall  be  again  a 
woman.  Only  yield  not  thou,  but  go  ever  more 
boldly  when  occasion  shall  serve.  Little  thinkest 
thou  that  thy  first  succor  shall  be  from  a  city  of 
the  Greeks." 

And  when  she  had  ended  these  words,  ^Eneas 
made  answer:  "0  Lady,  no  toil  or  peril  shall 
take  me  unawares;  for  I  have  thought  over  all 
things  in  my  heart.  But  one  thing  I  ask  of  thee. 
Here  is  the  door  of  the  dwellings  of  the  dead. 
Fain  would  I  pass  thereby,  that  I  may  visit  my 
father.  I  carried  him  on  my  shoulders  out  of 
the  fires  of  Troy,  and  with  me  he  endured  many 
things  by  land  and  sea,  more  than  befitted  his 
old  age.  Likewise  he  bade  me  ask  this  boon  of 
thee.  Do  thou  therefore  pity  both  father  and 
son,  for  thou  hast  the  power,  if  only  thou  wilt. 
Did  not  Orpheus  bring  back  his  wife  from  the 
dead,  having  his  harp  only?  Also  Pollux  goeth 
many  times  this  same  path,  redeeming  his  brother 
from  death.  And  why  should  I  tell  of  Theseus 


102  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

and  Hercules?  And  I  also  am  of  the  lineage  of 
Jupiter." 

Then  the  Sibyl  spake,  saying,  "  Son  of  An- 
chises,  it  is  easy  to  go  down  to  hell.  The  door  is 
open  day  and  night.  But  to  return,  and  struggle 
to  the  upper  air,  that  is  the  labor.  Few  only 
have  done  it,  and  these  of  the  lineage  of  the  Gods 
and  dear  to  Jupiter.  Yet  if  thou  wilt  attempt 
it,  hearken  unto  me.  There  lieth  hid  in  the 
forest  a  bough  of  gold  which  is  sacred  to  the 
Queen  of  hell.  Nor  may  any  man  go  on  this 
journey  till  he  have  plucked  it,  for  the  Queen 
will  have  it  as  a  gift  for  herself.  And  when  the 
bough  is  plucked,  there  ever  groweth  another; 
and  if  it  be  the  pleasure  of  the  Gods  that  thou 
go,  it  will  yield  to  thy  hand.  But  know  that 
one  of  thy  companions  lieth  dead  upon  the  shore. 
First  must  thou  bury  him,  and  after  offer  due 
sacrifice,  even  black  sheep.  So  shalt  thou  approach 
the  dwellings  of  the  dead." 

Then  ^Eneas  departed  from,  the  cave,  and 
Achates  went  with  him,  and  much'  they  won- 
dered who  it  might  be  that  was  dead.  And  when 
they  came  to  the  shore,  lo !  Misenus  lay  there, 
than  whom  no  man  was  more  skilful  to  call  men 
to  battle  with  the  voice  of  the  trumpet.  Hector's 
companion  he  had  been  in  old  time,  and  then 
followed  ^Eneas.  And  now,  blowing  his  trumpet 
on  the  shore,  he  had  challenged  the  gods  of  the 
sea  to  compare  with  hinT;  wherefore  a  Triton 
caught  him  and  plunged  him  into  the  sea,  so 


THE  SIBYL.  103 

that  he  died.  Then  did  JEneas  and  his  com- 
panions prepare  for  the  burial,  cutting  ilex  and 
oak  and  mountain-ash  from  the  wood.  But  when 
/Eneas  beheld  the  forest,  how  vast  it  was,  he  said, 
"  Now  may  the  Gods  grant  that  in  this  great 
forest  the  bough  of  gold  discover  itself."  And 
as  he  spake,  lo!  two  doves  flew  before  his  face, 
and  settled  on  the  grass,  and  he  knew  them  to 
be  the  birds  of  his  mother,  and  cried,  saying, 
"  Guide  me  now  to  the  Bough  of  gold,  and  thou 
my  mother  help  me  as  before."  Then  the  birds 
flew  so  that  he  could  still  see  them  with  his  eyes, 
and  he  followed  after  them.  But  when  they  came 
to  the  mouth  of  Avernus,  they  sat  both  of  them 
on  the  tree.  And  lo !  the  bough  of  gold  glittered 
among  the  branches  and  rustled  in  the  wind. 
Right  gladly  did  /Eneas  break  it  off,  and  carry 
it  to  the  dwelling  of  the  Sibyl. 

In  the  meantime  the  men  of  Troy  made  a  great 
burial  for  Misenus  on  the  shore,  building  a  pile 
of  wood,  and  washing  and  anointing  the  body. 
Also  they  laid  the  body  on  a  bier,  and  on  it  the 
garments  which  he  had  worn  being  yet  alive. 
Then  others,  with  faces  turned  away,  held  a 
torch  to  the  wood,  whereon  also  were  burnt  in- 
cense and  offerings  of  oil.  And  when  the  burn- 
ing was  ended  they  quenched  the  ashes  with  wine. 
And  Corynseus  gathered  the  bones  into  an  urn  of 
bronze,  and  purified  the  people,  sprinkling  them 
with  water  with  a  bough  of  an  olive-tree.  Then 
^Eneas  made  a  great  mound,  and  put  thereon  the 


104  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

trumpet  of  the  man  and  his  bow;  and  the  moun- 
tain is  called  Misenus,  after  him,  to  this  day. 

But  when  the  burial  was  ended  he  did  as  the 
Sibyl  had  commanded.  A  great  cavern  there  is, 
from  which  cometh  so  evil  a  stench  that  no  bird 
may  fly  across.  There  they  brought  four  black 
oxen,  and  the  priestess  poured  wine  upon  their 
heads  and  cut  hairs  from  between  the  horns. 
And  when  they  had  burned  these  they  slew  the 
oxen,  holding  dishes  for  the  blood.  And  ^neas 
offered  a  black  lamb  to  the  Furies  and  a  barren 
heifer  to  the  Queen  of  hell,  smiting  them  with 
his  sword.  Then  they  burned  the  entrails  with 
fire,  pouring  oil  upon  them.  Then  did  the  ground 
give  a  hollow  sound  beneath  them,  and  the  dogs 
howled,  for  the  goddess  was  at  hand.  And  the 
priestess  cried,  "Go  ye  who  may  not  take  part 
in  this  matter.  And  thou,  ^Eneas,  draw  thy 
sword  from  its  sheath  and  follow.  Xow  hast 
thou  need  of  all  thy  strength  and  courage." 
Then  she  plunged  into  the  cave,  and  ^Eneas  went 
with  her. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE   DWELLINGS   OF   THE   DEAD. 

So  they  went  together  through  the  land  of 
shadows,  like  unto  men  who  walk  through  a 
wood  in  a  doubtful  light,  when  the  moon  indeed 
hath  risen,  but  there  are  clouds  over  the  sky. 
And  first  they  came  to  where,  in  front  of  the 
gates  of  hell,  dwell  Sorrow  and  Remorse,  and 
pale  Disease  and  Fear,  and  Hunger  that  tempteth 
men  to  sin,  and  Want,  and  Death,  and  Toil,  and 
Slumber,  that  is  Death's  kinsman,  and  deadly 
War;  also  they  saw  the  chambers  of  the  Furies, 
and  Discord,  whose  hair  is  of  snakes  that  drip 
with'  blood.  And  in  this  region  there  is  an  an- 
cient elm,  in  the  boughs  whereof  dwell  all  man- 
ner of  dreams,  and  shapes  of  evil  monsters,  as 
many  as  have  been,  such  as  were  the  Centaurs, 
half  man,  half  horse,  and  Briareus  with  the  hun- 
dred hands,  and  others  also.  These  ^neas,  when 
he  saw  them,  sought  to  slay,  rushing  upon  them 
with  the  sword,  but  his  guide  warned  him  that 
they  were  shadows  only. 

After  this  they  came  to  the  river  of  hell,  where- 
on plies  the  Boatman  Charon.  A  long  white 
beard  hath  he  and  unkempt;  and  his  eyes  are 

105 


106  S10UIES    FROM   VIRGIL. 

fixed  in  a  fiery  stare,  and  a  scarf  is  knotted  upon 
his  shoulder,  as  is  a  pilot's  wont.  An  old  man 
he  seemeth  to  be,  but  hale  and  ruddy.  Now 
there  was  ever  rushing  to  the  bank  a  great  crowd, 
wives  and  mothers,  and  valiant  men  of  war,  boys, 
and  girls  dead  before  they  were  given  in  mar- 
riage, and  young  men  laid  on  the  funeral  pile 
before  their  parents'  eyes.  Thick  they  were  as 
the  leaves  that  fall  to  the  earth  at  the  first  frost 
of  autumn,  or  as  the  swallows,  when  they  gather 
themselves  together,  making  ready  to  fly  across 
the  sea  to  the  lands  of  the  sun.  And  of  the.-e 
Charon  would  take  some  into  his  boat;  but  others 
he  would  forbid,  and  drive  from  the  shore.  This 
when  ^Eneas  saw,  he  marveled,  and  said,  "  0 
Lady,  what  meaneth  this  concourse  at  the  river? 
What  seek  these  souls?  Why  be  some  driven 
from  the  bank  and  some  ferried  across?" 

And  the  Sibyl  made  answer:  "This  river  that 
thou  seest  is  the  Styx,  by  which  the  Gods  in 
heaven  swear,  and  fear  to  break  their  oath.  Those 
whom  thou  seest  to  be  driven  from  the  bank  are 
such  as  have  lacked  burial,  but  those  who  are 
ferried  across  have  been  buried  duly;  for  none 
pass  this  stream  till  their  bodies  have  been  laid 
in  the  grave,  otherwise  they  wander  for  a  hun- 
dred years,  and  so  at  last  may  cross  over." 

Much  did  ^Eneas  pity  their  ill  fortune,  and  the 
more  when  he  beheld  Orontes  and  his  Ly clans 
whom  the  sea  had  swallowed  up  alive  before  his 
eyes.  Here  likewise  there  met  him  his  pilot 


THE  DWELLINGS  OF  THE  DEAD.         107 

Palinurus,  to  whom,  when  he  knew  him,  for  in- 
deed he  scarce  could  see  him  in  the  darkness,  he 
said,  "  What  god  took  thee  from  us  and  drowned 
thee  in  the  sea?  Surely,  in  this  one  matter, 
Apollo  hath  deceived  me,  sayiug  that  thou 
shouldst  escape  the  sea  and  come  to  the  land  of 
Italy." 

Then  answered  Palinurus,  "  Xot  so,  great 
^Eneas.  For  indeed  to  the  land  of  Italy  I  came. 
Three  nights  the  south  wind  carried  me  over  the 
sea,  and  on  the  fourth  day  I  saw  the  land  of 
Italy  from  the  top  of  a  wave.  And  when  I  swam 
to  the  shore,  and  was  now  clinging  to  the  rocks, 
my  garments  being  heavy  with  water,  the  savage 
people  came  upon  me,  and  took  me  for  a  prey, 
and  slew  me.  And  now  the  winds  and  waves 
bear  me  about  as  they  will.  Wherefore  I  pray 
thee,  by  thy  father,  and  lulus,  the  hope  of  thy 
house,  that  thou  deliver  me  from  these  woes.  Go, 
therefore,  I  beseech  thee,  to  the  haven  of  Velia, 
and  cast  earth  upon  me  for  burial;  or  give  me 
now  thy  hand,  and  take  me  with  thee  across  this 
river." 

Then  said  the  priestess,  "  0  Palinurus,  what 
madness  is  this?  Wilt  thou  without  due  burial 
cross  the  river,  and  look  upon  the  awful  faces 
of  the  Furies?  Think  not  that  the  Fates  can  be 
changed  by  prayers.  Yet  hear  this,  and  be  com- 
forted. They  that  slew  thee,  being  sore  troubled 
by  many  plagues,  shall  make  due  expiation  to 
thee,  and  build  a  tomb,  and  make  offerings  there- 


108  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

on  year  by  year;  and  the  place  where  they  slew 
thee  shall  be  called  after  thy  name." 

Then  he  took  comfort  and  departed.  But 
when  they  came  near  to  the  river,  the  Boatman 
beheld  them,  and  cried,  "  Stay  thou,  whoever 
thou  art,  that  comest  armed  to  this  river,  and 
tell  me  what  thou  seekest.  This  is  the  land  of 
Shadows,  of  Sleep,  and  of  Night.  The  living 
may  not  be  ferried  in  this  boat.  An  evil  day  it 
was  when  I  carried  Hercules,  and  Theseus,  and 
Pirithoiis,  though  they  were  children  of  the  Gods. 
For  Hercules  chained  the  Watch-dog  of  hell,  and 
dragged  him  trembling  from  his  master's  seat. 
And  Theseus  and  his  friend  sought  to  carry  away 
the  Queen  even  from  the  chamber  of  her  hus- 
band." 

Then  the  Sibyl  made  answer :  "  Be  not 
troubled.  We  come  not  hither  with  evil  thoughts. 
Let  the  Watch-dog  of  hell  make  the  pale  ghosts 
afraid;  let  your  Queen  abide  in  her  husband's 
palace;  we  will  not  harm  them.  ^Eneas  of  Troy 
cometh  down  to  hell  that  he  may  speak  with  his 
father.  And  if  thou  takest  no  account  of  such 
piety,  yet  thou  wilt  know  this  token." 

And  she  showed  him  the  bough  of  gold.  And 
when  lie  saw  it  he  laid  aside  his  anger,  rejoicing 
to  behold,  now  after  many  years,  the  marvelous 
gift.  Then  he  brought  near  his  boat  to  the  bank, 
and  drave  out  the  souls  that  were  therein;  and 
took  on  board  ^neas  and  the  priestess.  Much 
did  it  groan  with  the  weight,  and  the  water 


TIIHKK  FATES. 
Michael  Angela.     1'itti  (lallery,  Florence 


THE   DWELLINGS   OF   THE   DEAD.          109 

poured  apace  through  the  seams  thereof.  Yet  did 
they  come  safe  across. 

Then  they  saw  Cerberus,  the  Watch-dog,  ill  his 
cave.  And  to  him  the  Sibyl  gave  a  cake  of  honey 
and  poppy-seed,  causing  sleep.  And  this  he 
swallowed,  opening  wide  his  three  ravenous 
mouths,  and  straightway  stretched  himself  out 
asleep  across  the  cave. 

After  this  they  heard  a  great  wailing  of  in- 
fants, even  the  voices  of  such  as  are  taken  away 
before  they  have  had  lot  or  part  in  life.  And 
near  to  these  were  such  as  have  died  by  false  ac- 
cusation; 'yet  lack  they  not  justice,  for  Minos 
trieth  their  cause.  And  yet  beyond,  they  that, 
being  guiltless,  have  laid  hands  upon  themselves. 
Fain  would  they  now  endure  hardships,  being  yet 
alive,  but  may  not,  for  the  river  keeps  them  in 
with  his  unlovely  stream  as  in  a  prison.  Not 
far  from  these  are  the  Mourning  Fields,  where 
dwell  the  souls  of  those  that  have  died  of  love, 
as  Procris,  whom  Cephalus  slew  in  error,  and 
Laodamia,  who  died  of  grief  for  her  husband. 
And  among  these  was  Dido,  fresh  from  the  wound 
wherewith  she  slew  herself.  And  when  ^Eneas 
saw  her  darkly  through  the  shadows,  even  as  one 
who  sees,  or  thinketh  that  he  sees,  the  new  moon 
lately  risen,  he  wept,  and  said,  "  0  Dido,  it  was 
truth,  then,  that  they  told  me,  saying  that  thou 
hadst  slain  thyself  with  the  sword.  Tell  me, 
was  I  the  cause  of  thy  death?  Loath  was  I,  0 
Queen — I  swear  it  by  all  that  is  most  holy  in 


110  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

heaven  or  hell — to  leave  thy  land.  But  the  Gods, 
at  whose  bidding  I  come  hither  this  day,  con- 
strained me;  nor  did  I  think  that  thou  wouldst 
take  such  sorrow  from  my  departure.  But  stay; 
depart  not;  for  never  again  may  I  speak  to  thee 
but  this  once  only." 

So  he  spake,  and  would  fain  have  appeased  her 
wrath.  But  she  cast  her  eyes  to  the  ground,  and 
her  heart  was  hard  against  him,  even  as  a  rock. 
And  she  departed  into  a  grove  that  was  hard  by, 
wherein  was  her  first  husband,  Sicha?us,  who 
loved  her  even  as  he  was  loved.  After  this  they 
came  to  the  land  where  the  heroes  dwell.  And 
there  they  saw  Tydeus,  who  died  before  Thebes; 
and  Adrastus,  and  also  many  men  of  Troy,  as 
the  three  sons  of  Antenor,  and  Idsus,  who  was 
the  armor-bearer  of  King  Priam,  and  bare  the 
arms  and  drave  the  chariot  yet.  All  these  gath- 
ered about  him,  and  would  fain  know  wherefore 
he  had  come.  But  when  the  hosts  of  Agamem- 
non saw  his  shining  arms  through  the  darkness, 
they  fled,  as  in  old  days  they  had  fled  to  the 
ships ;  and  some  would  have  cried  aloud,  but  could 
not,  so  thin  are  the  voices  of  the  dead. 

Among  these  he  saw  De'iphobus,  son  of  Priam. 
Cruelly  mangled  was  he,  for  his  hands  had  been 
cut  off,  and  his  ears  and  his  nostrils  likewise. 
Scarce  did  ^neas  know  him,  and  he  himself  in 
shame  would  have  hidden  his  wounds;  but  the 
son  of  Anchises  spake  to  him,  saying,  "  Who  hath 
dealt  so  foully  with  thee,  great  De'iphobus?  Men 


THE   DWELLINGS   OF   THE   DEAD.  Ill 

told  me  that  on  the  last  night  of  Troy  thou 
didst  fall  dead  on  a  heap  of  Greeks  whom  thou 
hadst  slain.  Wherefore  I  built  thee  a  tomb  by 
the  sea,  and  thrice  called  aloud  thy  name.  But 
thee  I  found  not,  that  I  might  lay  thee  therein." 

Then  De'iphobus  made  answer :  "  Thou  hast  left 
nothing  undone,  but  hast  paid  me  all  due  honor. 
But  my  ill  fate  and  the  accursed  wickedness  of 
the  Spartan  woman  have  destroyed  me.  How  we 
spent  that  last  night  in  idle  rejoicings  thou 
knowest.  And  she,  while  the  women  of  Troy 
danced  before  the  Gods,  stood  holding  a  torch  on 
the  citadel,  as  though  she  were  their  leader,  yet 
in  truth  she  called  therewith  the  Greeks  from 
Tenedos.  But  I  lay  overcome  with  weariness  in 
my  chamber.  Then  did  she,  a  noble  wife,  for- 
sooth! take  all  the  arms  out  of  the  house,  and 
my  trusty  sword  also  from  under  my  head;  and 
after  brought  thereunto  Menelaiis,  so  hoping  to 
do  away  her  sin  against  him;  and  Ulysses  also, 
always  ready  with  evil  counsels.  What  need  of 
more?  May  the  Gods  do  so  and  more  also  to 
them.  But  tell  me  why  hast  thou  come  hither?" 

And  it  was  now  past  noonday,  and  the  two 
had  spent  in  talk  all  the  allotted  time.  There- 
fore the  Sibyl  spake:  "Night  cometh,  ^Eneas, 
and  we  waste  the  day  in  tears.  Lo!  here  are  two 
roads.  This  on  the  right  hand  leadeth  to  the 
palace  of  Pluto  and  to  the  Elysian  plains;  and 
that  on  the  left  to  Tartarus,  the  abode  of  the 
wicked."  And  De'iphobus  answered :  "  Be  not 


112  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

wroth,  great  priestess;  I  depart  to  my  own  place. 
Do  thou,  my  friend,  go  on  and  prosper." 

But  as  JEneas  looked  round  he  saw  a  great 
building,  and  a  three-fold  wall  about  it,  and 
round  the  wall  a  river  of  fire.  Great  gates  there 
were,  and  a  tower  of  brass,  and  the  fury  Tisi- 
phone  sat  as  warder.  Also  he  heard  the  sound 
of  those  that  smote  upon  an  anvil,  and  the  clank- 
ing of  chains.  And  he  stood,  andr  said,  "  What 
mean  these  things  that  I  see  and  hear  ?  "  Then 
the  Sibyl  made  answer :  "  The  foot  of  the  right- 
eous may  not  pass  that  threshold.  But  when  the 
Queen  of  hell  gave  me  this  office  she  herself  led 
me  through  the  place  and  told  me  all.  There 
sitteth  Khadamanthus  the  Cretan,  and  judgeth 
the  dead.  And  them  that  be  condemned  Tisi- 
phone  taketh,  and  the  gate  which  thou  seest 
openeth  to  receive  them.  And  within  is  a  great 
pit,  and  the  depth  thereof  is  as  the  height  of 
heaven.  Herein  lie  the  Titans,  the  sons  of  Earth, 
whom  Jupiter  smote  with  the  thunder;  and  herein 
the  sons  of  Aloeus,  who  strove  to  thrust  the  Gods 
from  heaven;  and  Salmoneus,  who  would  have 
mocked  the  thunder  of  Jupiter,  riding  in  his 
chariot  through  the  cities  of  Elis,  and  shaking  a 
torch,  and  giving  himself  out  to  be  a  god.  But 
the  lightning  smote  him  in  his  pride.  Also  I 
saw  Tityos,  spread  over  nine  acres  of  ground, 
and  the  vulture  feeding  on  his  heart.  And  over 
some  hangs  a  great  stone  ready  to  fall ;  and  some 
sit  at  the  banquet,  but  when  they  would  eat,  tKe 


THE  DWELLINGS   OF    THE  DEAD.          113 

Fury  at  their  side  forbids,  and  rises  and  shakes 
her  torch  and  thunders  in  their  ears.  These  are 
they  who  while  they  were  yet  alive  hated  their 
brothers,  or  struck  father  or  mother,  or  deceived 
one  that  trusted  to  them,  or  kept  their  riches  for 
themselves,  nor  cared  for  those  of  their  own 
household  (a  great  multftude  are  they),  or  stirred 
up  civil  strife.  And  of  these  some  roll  a  great 
stone  and  cease  not,  and  some  are  bound  to 
wheels,  and  some  sit  for  ever  crying,  '  Learn  to 
do  righteousness  and  to  fear  the  Gods.' " 

And  when  the  priestess  had  finished  these 
words  they  hastened  on  their  way.  And,  after 
a  while,  she  said,  "  Lo !  here  is  the  palace  which 
the  Cyclopes  built  for  Pluto  and  the  Queen  of 
hell.  Here  must  we  offer  the  gift  of  the  bough 
of  gold."  And  this  being  accomplished,  they 
came  to  the  dwellings  of  the  righteous.  Here 
are  green  spaces,  with  woods  about  them;  and 
the  light  of  their  heaven  is  fuller  and  brighter 
than  that  which  men  behold.  Another  sun  they 
have  and  other  stars.  Some  of  them  contend  to- 
gether in  wrestling  and  running;  and  some  dance 
in  measure,  singing  the  while  a  pleasant  song; 
and  Orpheus,  clad  in  a  long  robe,  makes  music, 
touching  his  harp,  now  with  his  fingers  and  now 
with  an  ivory  bow.  Here  did  ^Eneas  marvel  to 
see  the  mighty  men  of  old,  such  as  were  Ilus, 
and  Dardanus,  builder  of  Troy.  Their  spears 
stood  fixed  in  the  earth,  and  their  horses  fed 
about  the  plain;  for  they  love  spear  and  chariot 
8 


114:  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

and  horses,  even  as  they  loved  them  upon  earth. 
And  others  sat  and  feasted,  sitting  on  the  grass 
in  a  sweet-smelling  grove  of  bay,  whence  flows 
the  river  which  men  upon  the  earth  call  the  Po. 
Here  were  they  who  had  died  for  their  country, 
and  holy  priests,  and  poets  who  had  uttered 
nothing  base,  and  such  as  had  found  out  witty 
inventions,  or  had  done  great  good  to  men.  All 
these  had  snow-white  garlands  on  their  heads. 
Then  spake  the  Sibyl  to  MiisaBiis,  who  stood  in 
the  midst,  surpassing  them  all  in  stature :  "  Tell 
me,  happy  souls,  where  shall  we  find  Anchises." 
And  Musasus  answered,  "  We  have  no  certain 
dwelling-place;  but  climb  this  hill,  and  ye  can 
see  the  whole  plain  below,  and  doubtless  him 
whom  ye  seek." 

Then  they  beheld  Anchises  where  he  sat  in  a 
green  valley,  regarding  the  spirits  of  those  who 
should  be  born  in  after-time  of  his  race.  And 
when  he  beheld  ^Eneas  coming,  he  stretched  out 
his  hands  and  cried,  "  Comest  thou,  my  son  ? 
Hast  thou  won  thy  way  thither  to  me?  Even  ?o 
I  thought  that  it  would  be,  and  lo !  my  hope  hath 
not  failed  me." 

And  ^Eneas  made  answer,  "Yea,  I  have  come 
a  long  way  to  see  thee,  even  as  thy  spirit  bade  me. 
And  now  let  me  embrace  thee  with  my  arms." 

But  when  he  would  have  embraced  him  it  was 
as  if  he  clasped  the  air. 

Then  tineas  looked  and  beheld  a  river,  and  a 
great  company  of  souls  thereby,  thick  as  the  bees 


THE   DWELLINGS   OF  THE   DEAD.          115 

on  a  calm  summer  day  in  a  garden  of  lilies.  And 
when  he  would  know  the  meaning  of  the  con- 
course, Anchises  said,  "  These  are  souls  which 
have  yet  to  live  again  in  a  mortal  body,  and  they 
are  constrained  to  drink  of  the  water  of  forgetful- 
ness."  And  ^Eneas  said,  "  Nay,  my  father,  can 
any  desire  to  take  again  upon  them  the  body  of 
death  ?  "  Then  Anchises  made  reply :  "  Listen, 
my  son,  and  I  will  tell  thee  all.  There  is  one 
soul  in  heaven  and  earth  and  the  stars  and  the 
shining  orb  of  the  moon  and  the  great  sun  him- 
self; from  which  soul  also  cometh  the  life  of  man 
and  of  beast,  and  of  the  birds  of  the  air,  and  of 
the  fishes  of  the  sea.  And  this  soul  is  of  a  divine 
nature,  but  the  mortal  body  maketh  it  slow  and 
dull.  Hence  come  fear  and  desire,  and  grief  and 
joy,  so  that,  being  as  it  were  shut  in  a  prison,  th.j 
spirit  beholdeth  not  any  more  the  light  that  is 
without.  And  when  the  mortal  life  is  ended  yet 
are  not  men  quit  of  all  the  evils  of  the  body,  see- 
ing that  these  must  needs  be  put  away  in  many 
marvelous  ways.  For  some  are  hung  up  to  the 
winds,  and  with  some  their  wickedness  is  washed 
out  by  water,  or  burnt  out  by  fire.  But  a  ghostly 
pain  we  all  endure.  Then  we  that  are  found 
worthy  are  sent  unto  Elysium  and  the  plains  of 
the  blest.  And  when,  after  many  days,  the  soul 
is  wholly  pure,  it  is  called  to  the  river  of  forget- 
fulness,  that  it  may  drink  thereof,  and  so  return 
to  the  world  that  is  above." 

Then   he  led  ./Eneas  and   the  Sibyl   to  a   hill 


116  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

whence  they  could  see  the  whole  company,  and 
regard  their  faces  as  they  came;  and  he  said, 
"  Come,  and  I  will  show  thee  them  that  sliall  come 
after  thee.  That  youth  who  leans  upon  >i  point- 
less spear  is  Silvius,  thy  youngest  child,  whom 
Lavinia  shall  bear  to  thee  in  thy  old  age.  He 
shall  reign  in  Alba,  and  shall  be  the  father  of 
kings.  And  many  other  kings  are  there  who 
shall  build  cities  great  and  famous.  Lo!  there  is 
Romulus,  whom  Ilia  shall  bear  to  Mars.  He  shall 
build  Rome,  whose  empire  shall  reach  to  the  ends 
of  the  earth  and  its  glory  to  the  heaven.  Seest 
thou  him  with  the  olive  crown  about  his  head  and 
the  white  beard?  That  is  he  who  shall  first  give 
laws  to  Rome.  And  next  to  him  is  Tullus,  the 
warrior.  And  there  are  the  Tarquins;  and  Bru- 
tus, who  shall  set  the  people  free,  aye,  and  shall 
slay  his  own  sons  when  they  would  be  false  to  their 
country.  See  also  the  Decii;  and  Torquatus, 
with  the  cruel  ax;  and  Camillus  winning  back 
the  standards  of  Rome.  There  standeth  one  who 
shall  subdue  Corinth;  and  there  another  who 
shall  avenge  the  blood  of  Troy  upon  the  race  of 
Achilles.  There,  too,  thou  mayest  see  the  Scip- 
ios,  thunderbolts  of  war,  whom  the  land  of  Africa 
shall  fear ;  and  there  Regulus,  busy  in  the  furrow? ; 
and  there  the  Fabii,  chiefly  him,  greatest  of  the 
name,  who  shall  save  thy  country  by  wise  delay. 
Such,  my  son,  shall  be  thy  children's  children. 
Others  with  softer  touch  shall  carve  the  face  of 
man  in  marble  or  mold  the  bronze;  some  more 


THE  DWELLINGS   OF   THE  DEAD.          117 

skilfully  shall  plead,  or  map  the  skies,  or  tell  the 
rising  of  the  stars.  'Tis  thine,  man  of  Eome,  to 
subdue  the  world.  This  is  thy  work,  to  set  the 
rule  of  peace  over  the  vanquished,  to  spare  the 
humble,  and  to  subdue  the  proud." 

Then  he  spake  again :  "  Kegard  him  who  is  the 
first  of  all  the  company  of  conquerors.  He  is 
Marccllus;  he  shall  save  the  state  in  the  day  of 
trouble,  and  put  to  flight  Carthaginian  and  Gaul." 

Then  said  ^Eneas,  for  lie  chanced  to  see  by  his 
side  a  youth  clad  in  shining  armor,  and  very  fair 
to  look  upon,  but  sad,  and  with  downcast  eyes, 
"  Tell  me,  father,  who  is  this  ?  How  noble  is  he ! 
What  a  company  is  about  him  !  but  there  is  a 
shadow  of  darkness  round  his  head." 

And  Anchises  made  answer,  "  0  my  son,  seek 
not  to  know  the  greatest  sorrow  that  shall  befall 
thy  children  after  thee.  This  youth  the  Fates 
shall  only  show  for  a  brief  space  to  man.  Rome 
would  seem  too  mighty  to  the  Gods  should  he  but 
live!  What  mourning  shall  there  be  for  him! 
What  a  funeral  shalt  thou  see,  0  river  of  Tiber, 
as  thou  flowest  by  the  new-made  tomb  !  No  youth 
of  the  race  of  Troy  shall  promise  so  much  as  he. 
Alas  !  for  his  righteousness,  and  truth,  and  valour 
unsurpassed  !  0  luckless  boy,  if  thou  canst  haply 
break  thy  evil  doom  thou  shalt  be  a  Marcellus. 
Give  handfuls  of  lilies.  I  will  scatter  the  bright 
flowers  and  pay  the  idle  honors  to  my  grandson's 
shade." 

Thus  did  Anchises  show  his  son  things  to  be, 


118  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

and  kindled  his  soul  with  desire  of  glory.  Also 
he  showed  him  what  wars  he  must  wage,  and  how 
he  should  endure,  or,  if  it  might  be,  avoid  the  evils 
to  come. 

There  are  two  gates  of  Sleep,  of  horn  the  one, 
by  which  true  dreams  go  forth ;  of  ivory  the  other, 
by  which  the  false  Then  did  Anchises  send  forth 
his  son  and  the  Sibyl  by  the  ivory  gate.  And 
^Eneas  returned  to  the  ships,  and  making  sail 
came  to  the  cape  which  was  afterwards  called 
Caieta. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

KING  LATINUS. 

WHILE  they  tarried  at  Cumae,  Caieta,  who  was 
the  nurse  of  ^Eneas,  died  and  was  buried;  and 
they  called  the  cape  after  her  name.  And  after- 
wards they  set  sail,  and  passed  by  the  island 
wherein  dwelt  Circe,  who  is  the  daughter  of  the 
Sun.  Pleasantly  doth  she  sing,  sitting  at  the 
loom,  and  burneth  torches  of  sweet-smelling  cedar 
to  give  her  light  by  night.  And  round  about  her 
dwelling  you  may  hear  the  growling  of  lions  and 
wild  boars  and  bears  and*  wolves,  which'  are  men 
whom  the  goddess  with  her  enchantments  hath 
changed  into  the  shapes  of  beasts.  But  Neptune 
would  not  that  the  men  of  Troy,  being  fearers 
of  the  Gods,  should  suffer  such  things.  There- 
fore did  he  send  them  favorable  winds,  so  that 
they  passed  quickly  by  that  land. 

Now  when  it  was  dawn,  the  wind  being  now 
lulled,  they  came  to  a  great  wood  upon  the  shore, 
and  in  the  midst  of  the  wood  the  river  Tiber  yel- 
low with  much  abundance  of  sand,  flowing  into  the 
sea.  And  on  the  shore  and  in  the  wood  were 
many  birds.  Thither  the  men  of  Troy  brought 
their  ships  safe  to  land. 

119 


120  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

Of  this  country  Latinus  was  king,  who  was 
son  of  Faunus,  who  was  the  son  of  Picus,  who  was 
the  son  of  Saturn.  And  King  Latiuus  had  not  a 
son,  but  a  daughter  only,  Lavinia  by  name,  who 
was  now  of  an  age  to  be  married.  Many  chiefs 
of  Latium,  and  of  all  Italy,  desired  to  have  her  to 
wife ;  of  whom  the  first  was  Turnus,  a  very  comely 
youth,  and  of  a  royal  house.  Xow  the  queen,  the 
mother  of  the  virgin,  loved  him,  and  would  fain 
have  married  her  daughter  to  him,  but  the  Gods 
hindered  the  marriage  with  ill  omens  and  marvels. 
In  the  midst  of  the  palace  was  a  great  bay-tree, 
which  the  king  who  builded  the  house  had  dedi- 
cated to  Phoebus.  On  this  there  lighted  a  great 
swarm  of  bees,  and  hung  like  unto  a  cluster  of 
grapes  from  a  bough  thereof.  And  the  seers  be- 
holding the  thing,  cried,  "  There  cometh  a 
stranger  who  shall  be  husband  to  Lavinia,  and  a 
strange  people  who  shall  bear  rule  in  this  place." 
Also  when  Lavinia  lighted  the  fire  upon  the  altar, 
standing  by  her  father,  a  flame  leapt  therefrom 
upon  her  hair,  and  burned  the  ornament  that  was 
upon  her  head  and  the  crown  of  jewels  and  gold, 
and  spread  with  smoke  and  fire  over  the  whole 
palace.  Whereupon  the  prophets  spake,  saying, 
"  The  virgin  indeed  shall  be  famous  and  great,  but 
there  cometh  a  dreadful  war  upon  her  people." 
And  King  Latinus,  fearing  what  these  things 
might  mean,  inquired  of  the  oracle  of  Faunus,  his 
father,  which  is  by  the  grove  of  Albunea.  Now 
the  custom  is  that  the  priest  offereth  sacrifice  in 


KING   LATINUS.  121 

the  grove  and  lieth  down  to  sleep  on  the  skins  of 
the  sheep  that  he  hath  slain;  and  it  cometh  to 
pass  that  he  seeth  visions  in  the  night  and  heareth 
the  voice  of  the  Gods.  So  King  Latinus,  being 
himself  a  priest,  made  a  great  sacrifice,  even  of 
a  hundred  sheep,  and  lay  down  to  sleep  upon  the 
skins  thereof.  And  when  he  was  laid  down, 
straightway  there  came  a  voice  from  the  grove, 
saying,  "  Seek  not,  my  son,  to  marry  thy  daugh- 
ter to  a  chief  of  this  land.  There  shall  come  a 
son-in-law  from  beyond  the  sea,  who  shall  exalt 
our  name  from  the  one  end  of  heaven  to  the 
other."  Nor  did  the  king  hide  these  things,  but 
noised  them  abroad,  and  the  fame  thereof  was 
great  in  these  days  when  JEneas  and  his  company 
came  to  the  land  of  Italy. 

Now  it  so  chanced  that  ^neas  and  lulus  his 
son,  and  others  of  the  princes,  sat  down  to  eat  un- 
der a  tree ;  and  they  had  platters  of  dough  whereon 
to  eat  their  meat.  And  when  they  had  ended,  and 
were  not  satisfied,  they  ate  their  platters  also,  not 
thinking  what  they  did.  Then  said  lulus,  mak- 
ing sport,  "  What  !  do  we  eat  even  our  tables  ?  " 
And  ^neas  was  right  glad  to  hear  this  thing,  and 
embraced  the  boy,  and  said,  "  Now  know  I  that 
we  are  come  to  the  land  which  the  Gods  have  prom- 
ised to  me  and  to  my  people,  that  they  would 
give  us.  For  my  father,  Anchises,  spake  to  me, 
saying,  '  My  son,  when  thou  shalt  come  to  a  land 
that  thou  knowest  not,  and  hunger  shall  constrain 
thee  to  eat  thy  tables,  then  know  that  thou  hast 


122  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

found  thee  a  home.'  Now,  therefore,  seeing  that 
these  things  have  an  accomplishment,  let  us  pour 
out  libations  to  Jupiter,  and  make  our  prayers  also 
to  my  father,  Anchises,  and  make  merry.  And 
in  the  morning  we  will  search  out  the  country, 
and  see  who  they  be  that  dwell  herein." 

Then  he  bound  a  garland  of  leaves  about  his 
head,  and  made  his  prayers  to  Mother  Earth,  and 
to  the  gods  of  the  land,  of  whom  indeed  he  knew 
not  who  they  were,  and  to  Father  Jupiter,  and 
to  the  other  gods  also.  And  when  he  had  ended 
his  prayer,  Jupiter  thundered  thrice  from  the  sky. 
Then  was  it  noised  abroad  among  the  men  of  Troy 
that  now  indeed  were  they  come  to  the  land  where 
they  should  build  them  a  city;  and  they  eat  and 
drank  and  made  merry. 

The  next  day  those  who  should  search  out  the 
country  went  forth.  And  when  it  was  told  ^Eneas, 
saying  that  this  ri\7er  was  the  Tiber,  and  that  the 
people  who  dwelt  in  the  land  were  the  Latins, 
valiant  men  of  war,  he  chose  out  a  hundred  men 
who  should  go,  with  crowns  of  olive  upon  their 
heads,  to  the  city  of  the  king,  having  also  gifts  in 
their  hands,  and  should  pray  that  there  might  be 
peace  between  the  men  of  Troy  and  his  people. 
And  the  men  made  haste  to  depart;  and  in  the 
meanwhile  JEneas  marked  out  for  himself  a  camp, 
and  bade  that  they  should  make  a  rampart  and 
a  ditch'. 

Now  when  they  that  were  sent  came  nigh  to  the 
city,  they  saw  the  young  men  in  the  plain  that 


KING   LATINUS.  123 

was  before  it,  riding  upon  horses  and  driving  char- 
iots. Others  shot  with  the  bow  or  cast  javelins, 
and  some  contended  in  running  or  boxing.  And 
one  rode  on  horseback  and  told  the  king,  saying 
that  certain  men  in  strange  raiment  were  come. 
Then  the  king  commanded  that  they  should  be 
brought  into  the  palace,  and  sat  upon  the  throne 
of  his  fathers,  and  gave  audience  to  them.: 

Now  the  palace  stood  on  the  hill  that  was  in 
the  midst  of  the  city,  where  King  Picus  had 
builded  it,  having  woods  about  it  very  sacred. 
Here  did  the  kings  first  receive  the  sceptre,  that 
they  should  bear  rule  over  the  people.  A  senate- 
house  also  it  was,  and  a  banqueting-house,  where 
the  princes  sat  feasting.  Very  great  was  it  and 
magnificent,  having  a  hundred  pillars;  and  in  the 
halls  were  the  statues  of  ancient  kings,  carven  in 
cedar,  even  Italus,  and  Sabinus  the  vine-dresser, 
and  Father  Saturn,  and  Janus  with  the  two  faces. 
Also  on  the  wall  hung  trophies  of  war,  chariots, 
and  battle-axes,  and  helmets,  and  javelins,  and  the 
beaks  of  ships.  And  sitting  on  a  throne  was  the 
image  of  King  Picus,  clad  in  royal  apparel,  bear- 
ing a  shield  on  his  left  arm.  But  the  king  him- 
self his  wife  Circe  had  changed  into  a  bird. 

And  King  Latinus  spake,  saying,  "  Tell  me, 
men  of  Troy,  for  I  know  you  who  you  are,  what 
seek  ye?  For  what  cause  are  ye  come  to  the  land 
of  Italy?  Have  ye  gone  astray  in  your  journey? 
or  have  the  storms  driven  you  out  of  the  way  as 
ofttimos  bef allot h  men  that  sail  upon  the  sea? 


124  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

Ye  are  welcome.  And  know  that  we  be  of  the 
race  of  Saturn,  who  do  righteously,  not  by  con- 
straint, but  of  our  own  will.  From  hence  also, 
even  from  Corythus,  which  is  a  city  of  the  Etru- 
rians, went  forth  Dardanus,  and  abode  in  the  land 
of  Troy." 

Then  Ilioneiis  made  answer,  saying,  "  Great 
King,  we  have  not  gone  astray  in  our  journey, 
nor  have  storms  driven  us  out  of  the  way.  Of 
set  purpose  are  we  come  to  this  land.  For  we 
were  driven  away  by  ill-fortune  from  our  country, 
of  which  things  we  doubt  not,  0  King,  that  thou 
knowest  the  certainty.  For  who  is  there  under 
the  whole  heaven  who  knoweth  not  what  a  storm 
of  destruction  came  forth  from  the  land  of  Greece 
and  overthrew  the  great  city  of  Troy,  Europe  and 
Asia  setting  themselves  in  arms  against  each 
other?  And  now  are  we  come  to  ask  for  a  parcel 
of  land  whereon  we  may  dwell;  and  for  air  and 
water,  which  indeed  are  common  to  all  men. 
Nor  shall  we  do  dishonor  to  this  realm,  nor  be 
unthankful  for  these  benefits.  And  be  sure,  0 
king,  that  it  will  not  repent  thee  that  thou  hast 
received  us.  For  indeed  many  nations  and  lands 
would  fain  have  joined  us  to  themselves.  But 
the  Gods  laid  a  command  upon  us  that  we  should 
come  to  this  country  of  Italy.  For  indeed,  as 
thou  sayest,  Dardanus  came  forth  from  hence, 
and  thither  his  children,  Apollo  bidding  them, 
would  return.  And  now,  behold,  ^Eneas  sends 
thee  these  gifts  of  the  things  which  remain  to  us 


KING   LATINUS.  125 

of  the  riches  which  we  had  aforetime.  This  scep- 
ter King  Priam  held  when  he  did  justice  among 
his  people;  here  is  a  crown  also,  and  garments 
which  the  women  of  Troy  have  worked  with  their 
hands." 

Then  for  awhile  King  Latinus  kept  silence,  fix- 
ing his  eyes  upon  the  ground.  Deeply  did  he 
ponder  in  his  heart  upon  the  marriage  of  his 
daughter,  and  upon  the  oracles  of  Faunus  his 
father,  whether  indeed  this  stranger  that  was  now 
come  to  his  land  might  haply  be  the  son-in-law 
of  whom  the  prophets  had  spoken.  At  the  last  he 
spake,  saying,  "  May  the  Gods  prosper  this  matter 
between  you  and  me.  We  grant,  men  of  Troy, 
that  which  ye  ask.  Also  we  regard  these  your 
gifts.  Know  ye  that  while  we  reign  in  this  land 
ye  shall  not  want  for  riches,  even  unto  the  measure 
of  the  riches  of  Troy.  And  for  your  king  ^Eneas, 
if  he  desire,  as  ye  say,  to  join  himself  with  us, 
let  him  come  and  look  upon  us,  face  *o  face.  And 
also  take  ye  back  this  message  to  your  king.  I 
have  a  daughter,  whom  the  Gods  suffer  me  not  to 
marry  to  a  husband  of  this  land.  For  they  say 
that  there  shall  come  a  stranger  who  shall  be  my 
son-in-law,  and  that  from  his  loins  shall  come 
forth  those  who  shall  raise  our  name  even  unto 
the  stars." 

Then  the  king  commanded  that  they  should 
bring  forth  horses  from  the  stalls.  Now  there 
stood  in  the  stalls  three  hundred  horses,  very 
fleet  of  foot.  And  of  these  they  brought  forth 


12G  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

one  hundred,  one  for  each  man  of  Troy ;  and  they 
were  decked  with  trappings  of  purple,  and 
champed  on  bits  of  gold.  And  for  JEneas  him- 
self ho  sent  a  chariot,  and  two  horses  breathing 
fire  from  their  nostrils,  which  were  of  the  breed 
of  the  horses  of  the  Sun.  So  the  men  of  Troy 
went  back  riding  on  horses,  and  took  to  ^3Eneas 
the  gifts  and  the  message  of  peace. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

THE  WRATH  OF  JUNO. 

Now  Juno  beheld  how  the  men  of  Troy  were 
come  to  the  land  of  Italy,  and  were  now  building 
them  houses  to  dwell  in;  and  great  wrath  came 
into  her  heart,  and  she  spake  to  herself,  saying, 
"  Of  a  truth'  this  accursed  race  hath  vanquished 
me.  For  the  flames  of  Troy  burned  them  not, 
neither  hath  the  sea  devoured  them.  And,  lo  ! 
they  are  come  to  the  pla5ce  where  they  would  be, 
even  to  the  river  of  Tiber.  Yet  could  Mars  de- 
story  the  whole  nation  of  the  Lapithae,  when  he 
was  wroth'  with  them ;  and  Jupiter  suffered  Diana 
to  prevail  against  the  land  of  Calydon.  Yet  had 
not  the  Lapithae  or  Calydon  done  so  great  wicked- 
ness as  hath  this  nation  of  Troy.  And  I,  who  am 
the  wife  of  Jupiter,  am  vanquished  by  ^Eneas  ! 
Yet  have  I  means  yet  remaining  to  me,  for  if  the 
Gods  of  heaven  will  not  help  me,  then  will  I  be- 
take me  to  the  powers  of  hell.  From  the  kingdom 
of  Latium  I  may  not  keep  him,  and  the  Gods  de- 
cree that  he  shall  have  Lavinia  to  wife.  Yet  may 
I  hinder  the  matter.  Surely  at  a  great  price  shall 
they  buy  this  alliance;  and  thy  dowry,  0  virgin, 
shall  be  the  blood  of  Italy  and  of  Troy." 

127 


128  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

Then  Juno  descended  to  the  lower  parts  of  the 
earth,  and  called  to  her  Alecto  from  the  dwellings 
of  her  sisters  the  Furies — Alecto  who  loveth  war 
and  anger  and  treachery,  and  all  evil  deeds. 
Even  Pluto  hateth  her,  aye,  and  her  sisters  like- 
wise, so  dreadful  is  she  to  behold.  And  Juno 
spake  to  her,  saying,  "  Now  would  I  have  thee 
help  me,  Daughter  of  Night,  that  I  lose  not  my 
proper  honor.  I  will  not  that  ^neas  should 
have  the  daughter  of  Latinus  to  wife,  or  dwell  in 
the  land  of  Italy.  Seeing  therefore  that  thou 
canst  set  brother  against  brother,  and  bring  en- 
mity into  houses  and  kingdoms,  that  they  should 
fall,  break  this  peace  that  they  have  made,  and 
bring  to  pass  some  occasion  of  war." 

Then  straightway  Alecto  betook  herself  to  the 
dwelling  of  King  Latinus.  There  found  she 
Amiata,  the  queen,  in  great  trouble  and  wrath,  for 
she  loved  not  the  men  of  Troy,  and  would  have 
Turnus  for  her  son-in-law.  And  the  Fury  took 
a  snake  from  her  hair,  and  thrust  it  into  the 
bosom  of  the  queen.  About  her  breast  it  glided 
unfelt,  and  breathed  poisonous  breath  into  her 
heart.  And  now  it  became  a  collar  of  twisted 
gold  about  her  neck,  and  now  a  crown  about  her 
head,  binding  her  hair.  At  the  first  indeed,  when 
the  poison  began  to  work,  and  her  whole  heart 
was  not  as  yet  filled  with  the  fever,  she  spake 
gently  and  after  the  wont  of  a  mother,  weeping 
much  the  while  over  her  daughter.  "  Art  thou 
then  ready,  my  husband,  to  give  thy  daughter  to 


THE   WRATH   OF  JUNO.  129 

this  exile  of  Troy  ?  Hast  thou  no  pity  for  thyself, 
or  thy  daughter,  or  me?  Well  know  I  that  with 
the  first  north  wind  he  will  fly  and  carry  her  away 
over  the  sea.  And  what  of  thy  word,  and  of  thq 
faith  that  thou  hast  pledged  so  many  times  to 
Turnus  thy  kinsman?  If  thou  must  seek  a  son- 
in-law  from  the  land  of  the  stranger,  I  hold  that 
they  all  be  strangers  who  obey  not  thy  rule,  and 
that  the  Gods  mean  not  other  than  this.  And 
Turnus,  if  thou  wilt  inquire  more  deeply  into  his. 
descent,  is  of  the  lineage  of  Inachus,  and  cometh 
in  the  beginning  from  the  land  of  Mjcenae." 

But  when  she  perceived  that  her  husband  heeded 
not  these  words,  and  when  also  the  poison  of  the 
serpent  had  now  altogether  prevailed  over  her, 
she  ran  through  the  city  like  to  one  that  is  mad. 
Nay,  she  feigned  that  the  frenzy  of  Bacchus  was 
upon  her,  and  fled  into  the  woods,  taking  her 
daughter  with  her,  to  the  end  that  she  might  hin- 
der the  marriage.  Many  other  women  also,  when 
they  heard  this  thing,  went  forth,  leaving  their 
homes.  With  bare  necks  and  hair  unbound  they 
went,  crying  aloud  the  while;  and  in  their  hands 
they  held  staves  of  pine,  and  were  clad  in  the 
skins  of  wild  beasts.  And  in  the  midst  of  them 
stood  the  queen,  holding  a  great  pine  torch  in  her 
hand,  and  singing  the  marriage  song  of  her  daugh- 
ter and  Turnus ;  and  her  eyes  were  red  as  blood. 

Next  after  this  the  Fury,  deeming  that  she 
had  overthrown  the  counsels  of  Latinus,  sped  to 
the  city  of  Turnus  the  Rutulian.  Now  the  name 


130  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

of  the  city  was  called  Ardea,  and  Danae  builded 
it  in  old  time;  Ardea  is  it  called  to  this  day,  but 
its  glory  hath  departed.  Now  Turnus  was  asleep 
in  his  palace,  and  Alecto  took  upon  her  the  shape 
of  an  old  woman,  even  of  Chalybe,  who  was  the 
priestess  of  Juno ;  and  she  spake,  saying,  "  Turnus, 
wilt  thou  suffer  all  thy  toil  to  be  in  vain,  and  thy 
kingdom  to  be  given  to  another?  King  Latinus 
taketh  from  thee  thy  betrothed  wife,  and  chooseth 
a  stranger  that  he  should  inherit  his  kingdom. 
Juno  commanded  that  I  should  tell  thee  this  in 
thy  sleep.  Rise,  therefore,  and  arm  thy  people. 
Consume  these  strangers  and  their  ships  with 
fire.  And  if  King  Latinus  yet  will  not  abide  by 
his  promise,  let  him  know  for  himself  what 
Turnus  can  do  in  the  day  of  battle." 

But  Turnus  laughed  her  to  scorn.  "  That  the 
ships  of  the  stranger  have  come  to  the  Tiber,  I 
know  full  well.  But  tell  me  not  these  tales. 
Queen  Juno  forgetteth  me  not,  therefore  I  am 
not  afraid;  but  thou,  mother,  art  old  and  wan- 
derest  from  the  truth,  and  troublest  thyself  for 
nought,  and  art  mocked  with  idle  fear.  Thy  busi- 
ness it  is  to  tend  the  temples  of  the  Gods  and  their 
images,  but  as  for  war,  leave  that  to  men,  seeing 
that  it  is  their  care." 

Greatly  wroth  was  Alecto  to  hear  such  words. 
And  even  while  he  spake  the  young  man  shud- 
dered and  stared  with  his  eyes,  for  the  Fury 
hissed  before  him  with  a  thousand  snakes.  And 
when  he  would  have  spoken  more,  she  thrust  him 


THE   WRATH   OF   JUNO.  131 

back,  and  caught  two  snakes  from  her  hair,  and 
lashed  him  therewith,  and  cried  aloud,  "  Old  am 
I !  and  wander  from  the  truth  !  and  am  mocked 
with  idle  fears  !  Xay,  but  I  come  from  the  dwell- 
ing of  the  Furies,  and  war  and  death  are  in  my 
hand  ! " 

And  she  cast  a  torch  at  the  youth,  and  fixed  it 
smoking  with  baleful  light  in  h'is  heart.  Then, 
in  great  fear,  he  woke,  and  a  cold  sweat  burst  forth 
upon  him,  and  he  cried  aloud  for  his  arms,  and 
was  exceedingly  mad  for  battle.  Also  he  bade  the 
youth  arm  themselves,  saying  that  he  would 
thrust  the  men  of  Troy  out  of  Italy,  aye,  and 
fight,  if  need  were,  with  the  Latins  also.  And 
the  people  hearkened  unto  him,  so  fair  was  he,  and 
of  noble  birth  and  great  renown  in  war. 

Then  Alecto  hied  her  to  the  place  where  liilus 
was  hunting  the  beasts  of  the  forest.  Now  there 
was  a  stag,  very  stately,  with  exceeding  great 
horns,  which  Tyrrheus  and  his  children  had 
brought  up  from  a  fawn.  And  Silvia,  a  fair  vir- 
gin who  was  his  daughter,  was  wont  to  adorn  it 
with  garlands,  and  to  comb  it  and  to  wash  it  with 
water.  By  day  it  would  wander  in  the  woods,  and 
at  nightfall  come  back  to  the  house.  This  stag, 
then,  the  dogs  of  liilus  having  scented  pursued, 
and  indeed  Alecto  brought  it  to  pass  that  this 
mischief  shall  befall;  and  liilus  also,  following 
hard  upon  his  dogs,  shot  an  arrow  at  it,  nor 
missed  (for  the  Fury  would  have  it  so),  but 
pierced  it  through.  Then  the  wounded  beast  fled 


132  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

back  to  the  house  which  it  knew,  being  covered 
with  blood,  and  filled  it  with  a  lamentable  voice, 
as  one  that  crieth  for  help.  And  Silvia  heard  it, 
and  cried  to  the  country  folk  for  aid,  who  came 
forthwith,  Alecto  urging  them  (for  the  accursed 
thing  lay  hid  in  the  woods).  And  one  had  a 
charred  firebrand  and  another  a  knotted  stick, 
each  such  weapon  as  came  to  his  hand.  And 
Tyrrheus,  who  chanced  to  be  splitting  a  tall  oak 
with  wedges,  led  the  way,  having  a  great  ax  in 
his  hand. 

Then  did  Alecto  climb  upon  the  roof,  and, 
sounding  with  hellish  voice  through  a  clarion, 
sent  abroad  the  shepherds'  signal.  And  all  the 
forest  trembled  at  the  sound,  and  Trivia's  lake,  and 
Nar,  with  his  white  sulphurous  wave,  and  the 
fountains  of  Velia;  and  trembling  mothers 
pressed  their  children  to  their  breasts. 

Then  ran  together  all  the  country  folk,  and  the 
youth  of  Troy  hasted  also  to  the  help  of  liilus. 
And  now  they  fought  not  with  clubs  and  charred 
stakes,  but  with  swords  and  spears  in  battle  array. 
Then  Almo  fell,  the  eldest  of  the  sons  of  Tyr- 
rheus, stricken  in  the  throat,  with  many  others 
round  him,  and  among  them  the  old  man  Galaesus, 
even  as  he  offered  himself  to  be  a  mediator  be- 
tween the  two.  Most  righteous  of  men  was  he, 
and  richest  likewise,  for  he  had  five  flocks  of 
sheep  and  five  herds  of  cattle,  and  tilled  {lie  earth 
with  a  hundred  ploughs. 

But  Alecto,  when  she  had  accomplished  these 


THE  WRATH   OF  JUNO.  133 

things,  hasted  to  Juno,  and  spake,  saying,  "I 
have  done  thy  bidding;  and  now,  if  thou  wilt,  I 
will  to  the  neighboring  cities,  spreading  among 
them  rumors  of  wars."  But  Juno  answered,  "  It 
is  enough ;  there  hath  been  the  shedding  of  blood. 
It  were  not  well  that  the  Father  should  see  thee 
wandering  in  the  upper  air,  wherefore  depart,  and 
if  aught  remain  to  be  done,  I  will  see  to  it." 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  GATHERING  OF  THE  CHIEFS. 

AFTER  this  the  shepherds  hasted  back  to  the 
city,  and  bare  with'  them  the  dead,  even  the  youth 
Almo  and  the  old  man  Galassus,  and  cried  for 
vengeance  to  the  Gods  and  to  the  king.  And 
fiercest  of  all  was  Turnus,  complaining  that  men 
of  Troy  were  called  to  reign  over  them,  and  that 
he  himself  was  banished.  And  all  the  multitude 
was  urgent  with  the  king  that  he  should  make  war 
against  the  strangers;  neither  did  any  man  re- 
gard the  commands  of  the  Gods.  But  the  king 
stood  firm,  even  as  a  great  rock  in  the  sea  is  not 
moved  though  the  waves  roar  about  it  and  the  sea- 
weed is  dashed  upon  its  sides.  But  when  he  saw 
that  he  could  not  prevail  against  these  evil  coun- 
sels, he  called  the  Gods  to  witness,  crying,  "The 
storm  strikes  upon  me,  and  I  may  not  stand 
against  it.  0  foolish  Latins,  ye  shall  pay  for  this 
madne??  with  your  blood,  and  thou,  Turnus, 
shalt  suffer  the  worst  punishment  of  all;  and 
when  thou  shalt  turn  to  the  Gods  they  shall  not 
hear  thee.  But  as  for  me,  my  rest  is  at  hand;  I 
lose  but  the  honors  of  my  funeral." 

It  was  a  custom  in  Latium,  which  Alba  kept  in 
134 


THE   GATHERING   OF  THE   CHIEFS.        135 

after  time,  and  mighty  Rome  yet  keepeth  to  this 
day,  that  when  she  beginncth  to  make  war,  be  it 
on  the  men  of  Thrace  or  the  men  of  East,  Arab,  or 
Indian,  or  Parthian,  they  open  the  great  gates 
of  the  temple  (double  they  are,  and  made  strong 
with  bolts  of  brass  and  iron),  on  the  threshold 
whereof  sitteth  Janus,  the  guardian.  For  the 
Consul  himself,  with  robe  and  girdle,  so  soon  as 
the  fathers  give  their  sentence  for  war,  throweth 
them  wide,  and  the  people  follow  the  Consul,  and 
the  horns  blow  a  great  blast  together.  Even  so 
they  bade  King  Latinus,  after  the  custom  of  his 
country,  declare  war  against  the  men  of  Troy,  and 
open  the  gates  of  slaughter ;  but  he  would  not,  fly- 
ing and  hiding  himself  in  darkness.  Then  did 
great  Juno  herself  come  down  and  burst  asunder 
the  iron-bound  gates  of  war. 

Then  through  the  land  of  Italy  men  prepared 
themselves  for  battle,  making  bright  shield  and 
spear  and  sharpening  the  ax  upon  the  whetstone. 
And  in  five  cities  did  they  set  up  anvils  to  make 
arms  thereon,  head-pieces,  and  shields  of  wicker, 
and  breast-plates  of  bronze,  and  greaves  of  silver. 
Nor  did  men  regard  any  more  the  reaping-hook 
nor  the  plow,  making  new  for  battle  the  swords  of 
their  fathers. 

Now  the  greatest  of  the  chiefs  were  these: 
First,  Prince  Mezentius,  the  Tuscan,  who  re- 
garded not  the  Gods;    and  with  him  Lausus  his 
son,  than  whom  was  none  fairer  in  the  host  but 
Turnus   only.    A   thousand   men   followed   him 


136  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

from  Agylla.     Worthy  was  he  of  a  better  father. 

Next  came,  with  horses  that  none  might  sur- 
pass, Aventinus,  son  of  Hercules;  and  on  his 
shield  was  the  emblem  of  his  father,  the  Hydra, 
with  its  hundred  snakes.  Long  swords  had  his 
men  and  Sabine  spears;  and  he  himself  had  about 
his  head  and  shoulders  a  great  lion's  skin,  with 
terrible  mane  and  great  white  teeth. 

And  from  Tibur  came  two  youths  of  Argos, 
twin  brothers,  Catillus  and  Coras,  swift  and 
strong  as  two  Centaurs  from  the  hills.  And 
Caeculus,  who  builded  Praeneste,  was  there,  son 
of  Vulcan,  and  a  great  company  of  country  folk 
with  him,  whereof  many  bare  not  shield  nor 
spear,  but  slings  with  bullets  of  lead,  and  javelins 
in  either  hand,  and  helmets  of  wolf's  skin  upon 
their  heads. 

After  him  marched  Messapus,  tamer  of  horses, 
Neptune's  son,  whom  no  man  might  lay  low  with 
fire  or  sword;  and  the  people  followed,  singing  a 
war-song  of  their  king,  like  to  a  great  flock  of 
swans,  which  flies  with  many  cries  across  the  Asian 
marsh.  And  next  Clausus  the  Sabine,  from  whom 
is  sprung  the  great  Claudian  house ;  and  Halesus, 
companion  of  Agamemnon,  and  enemy  of  Troy 
from  of  old,  with  many  nations  behind  him ;  clubs 
had  they,  fastened  with  thongs  of  leather,  and 
wicker  shields  on  their  left  arms,  and  their  swords 
were  shaped  as  reaping-hooks.  After  these  came 
CEbalus,  son  of  Telon,  with  the  men  of  Campania, 
wearing  helmets  of  cork,  and  having  shields  and 


THE   GATHERING  OF   THE   CHIEFS.        137 

swords  of  bronze ;  also  Ufens,  of  Nersae,  with  his 
robber  bands,  and  Umbro,  the  Marsian  priest,  a 
mighty  wizard  and  charmer  of  serpents,  who  also 
could  heal  their  bite ;  but  the  wound  of  the  Trojan 
spears  he  could  not  heal,  nor  did  all  his  charms  and 
mighty  herbs  avail  him. 

With  them  also  came  Virbius,  son  of  Hippolytus, 
from  Egeria.  For  men  say  that  Hippolytus,  when 
the  curse  of  his  father  had  fallen  upon  him,  and  he 
had  perished  by  the  madness  of  his  horses,  was 
made  alive  by  the  skill  of  ^Esculapius,  and  that 
Jupiter,  being  wroth  that  a  mortal  should  return 
from  the  dead,  slew  the  healer,  the  son  of  Phoebus, 
with  his  thunderbolt ;  but  that  Hippolytus  Diana 
hid  in  the  grove  of  Aricia,  that  he  might  spend 
the  rest  of  his  days  obscure  and  without  offence. 
And  therefore  do  they  yet  hinder  horses  from 
coming  near  to  the  temple  of  Diana.  Nevertheless 
the  youth  Virbius  drave  horses  in  his  chariot. 

But  chief  among  them  all  was  Turnus,  who 
moved  in  the  midst,  clad  in  armor,  and  overtop- 
ping them  all  by  his  head.  And  he  had  a  helmet 
with  three  crests,  and  the  Chimaera  thereon  for  a 
sign;  and  on  his  shield  was  lo,  with  her  horns 
lifted  to  heaven,  and  Argus  the  herdsman,  and 
Inachus  pouring  a  river  from  his  urn.  A  great 
multitude  followed  him,  Rutulians  and  Sicanians, 
and  they  that  dwelt  about  the  Tiber,  and  about 
Anxur,  and  about  the  green  woods  of  Feronia. 

Last  of  all  came  Camilla  the  Volscian,  with  a 
great  company  on  horses,  clad  in  armor  of  bronze. 


138  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

She  loved  neither  distaff  nor  the  basket  of  Mi- 
nerva, but  rather  to  fight  and  to  outstrip  the  winds 
in  running.  And  a  mighty  runner  was  she,  for 
she  would  run  over  the  harvest-field  nor  harm  the 
corn,  and  when  she  sped  across  the  waves  of  the  sea 
she  wetted  not  her  foot  therein.  All  the  youth 
marvelled  to  behold  her,  and  the  women  stood 
gazing  upon  her  as  she  went.  For  a  robe  of  royal 
purple  was  about  her  shoulders,  and  a  snood  of 
gold  about  her  hair;  and  she  carried  a  Syrian 
quiver  and  a  pike  of  myrtle-wood,  as  the  shepherds 
are  wont. 


CHAPTEE  XVIII. 

KING  EVANDER. 

So  the  chiefs  were  gathered  together,  and  mucli 
people  with  them,  Mezentius,  and  Ufens,  and 
Messapus  being  their  leaders.  They  sent  an  em- 
bassy likewise  to  Diomed  (for  Diomed  had  built 
him  a  city  in  Italy,  even  Arpi),  to  tell  him  that 
/Eneas  and  the  men  of  Troy  were  setting  up  a 
kingdom  in  these  parts,  and  to  bid  him  take 
counsel  for  himself. 

But  /Eneas  was  much  troubled  at  these  things, 
and  cast  about  in  his  mind  where  he  should  look 
for  help.  And  while  he  meditated  thereon  he 
slept.  And  lo !  in  his  dreams  the  god  of  the  river, 
even  Father  Tiber,  appeared  to  him.  An  old  man 
was  he,  and  clad  in  a  blue  linen  robe,  and  having 
a  crown  of  reeds  upon  his  head.  And  he  spake, 
saying,  "  Thou  art  welcome  to  this  land,  to  which 
thou  hast  brought  the  gods  of  Troy.  Be  not  dis- 
mayed at  wars  and  rumors  of  wars,  nor  cease  from 
thy  enterprise.  And  this  shall  be  a  sign  unto  thee. 
Thou  shalt  find  upon  the  shore  a  white  sow  with 
thirty  young,  white  also,  about  her  teats.  And  it 
shall  come  to  pass  that  after  thirty  years  lulus 

139 


HO  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

shall  build  him  the  White  City.  And  now  I  will 
tell  thee  how  thou  shalt  have  victory  in  this  war. 
Certain  men  of  Arcadia,  following  their  king, 
Evander,  have  built  a  city  in  this  land,  and  called 
its  name  Pallantium.  These  wage  war  continually 
with  the  Latins.  To  them  therefore  thou  must  go, 
making  thy  way  up  the  stream  of  the  river.  Rise 
therefore  and  offer  sacrifice  to  Juno,  appeasing  her 
wrath.  And  to  me  thou  shalt  perform  thy  vows 
when  thou  shalt  have  prevailed.  For  know  that  I 
am  Tiber  the  river,  and  that  of  all  the  rivers  on 
earth  none  is  dearer  to  the  Gods." 

Then  yEneas  roused  him  from  sleep,  and  made 
his  supplications  to  the  Nymphs  and  the  river  god, 
that  they  would  be  favorable  to  him.  And  when 
he  looked,  lo!  upon  the  shore  a  white  sow  with 
thirty  young,  white  also,  about  her  teats.  Of  these 
he  made  a  sacrifice  to  Juno.  And  after  this  he 
commanded  that  they  should  make  ready  two  ships, 
and  so  went  on  his  way.  And  Tiber  stayed  his 
stream  so  that  the  men  might  not  toil  in  rowing. 
Quickly  they  sped,  and  many  trees  were  above  their 
heads,  and  the  image  thereof  in  the  water  beneath. 
And  at  noonday  they  beheld  a  city  with  walls,  and 
a  citadel,  and  a  few  houses  round  about. 

Now  it  chanced  that  Evander  and  his  people 
were  holding  a  sacrifice  that  day  to  Hercules  before 
the  city.  But  when  they  saw  through  the  trees  the 
ships  approaching,  they  were  astonished,  and  all 
rose  from  the  feast.  But  Pallas,  who  was  the  son 
of  the  king,  commanded  that  they  should  not  in- 


KING  EVANDER.  141 

terrupt  the  sacrifice,  and,  snatching  a  spear,  he 
cried  from  the  mound  whereon  the  altar  stood: 
"  Strangers,  why  come  ye  ?  what  seek  ye  ?  Do  ye 
bring  peace  or  war  ?  " 

Then  ^neas  cried  from  the  stern  of  his  ship, 
holding  out  the  while  an  olive  branch:  "We  be 
men  of  Troy,  enemies  of  the  Latins,  and  we  seek 
King  Evander.  Say,  therefore,  to  him  that  /Eneas, 
prince  of  Troy,  is  come,  seeking  alliance  with  him." 

Much  did  Pallas  marvel  to  hear  this  name, 
and  said,  "  Approach  thou,  whoever  thou  art,  and 
hold  converse  with  my  father ; "  and  he  caught 
him  by  the  hand. 

And  when  /Eneas  was  set  before  King  Evander 
he  spake,  saying,  "  I  come  to  thee,  0  king,  not  un- 
willing or  fearful,  though  indeed  thou  art  a 
Greek  and  akin  to  the  sons  of  Atreus.  For  between 
thee  and  me  also  there  is  kindred.  For  Dardanus, 
builder  of  Troy,  was  the  son  of  Electra,  who  was 
the  daughter  of  Atlas.  And  ye  come  from  Mer- 
curius,  who  was  the  son  of  Cyllene,  who  was  also 
the  daughter  of  Atlas.  Wherefore,  I  sent  not  am- 
bassadors to  thee,  but  came  myself ,  fearing  nothing. 
Know  thou  that  the  Daunian  race,  which  warreth 
against  thee,  pursueth  us  also;  against  whom  if 
they  prevail,  without  doubt  they  shall  rule  over 
Italy,  from  the  one  sea  even  to  the  other.  I  would 
therefore,  that  we  make  alliance  together." 

And  as  he  spake,  Evander  ceased  not  to  regard 
him,  and,  when  he  had  ended,  spake,  saying, 
"Welcome,  great  son  of  Troy.  Gladly  do  I  recog- 


142  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

nisc  the  voice  and  face  of  Anchises.  For  I  remem- 
ber how  Priam  came  of  old  time  to  the  kingdom 
of  his  sister  Hesione,  who  was  the  wife  of  Tela- 
mon;  and  many  princes  were  with  him,  but  the 
mightiest  of  them  was  Anchises.  Much  did  1  love 
the  man,  and  took  him  with  me  to  Pheneus.  And 
he  gave  me  when  he  departed  a  quiver  and  arrows 
of  Lycia,  and  a  cloak  with  threads  of  gold,  and 
two  bridles  of  gold,  which  my  son  Pallas  hath  to 
this  day.  The  alliance  that  thou  seekest  I  grant. 
To-morrow  shalt  thou  depart,  with  such  help  as  I 
can  give.  But  now,  since  ye  be  come  at  such  good 
time,  join  us  in  our  sacrifice  and  feast." 

So  they  feasted  together  on  the  flesh  of  oxen 
and  drank  wine,  and  were  merry.  And  when  they 
had  made  an  end  of  eating  and  drinking,  King 
Evander  spake,  saying,  "  This  great  feast,  my 
friend,  we  hold  not  without  good  reason,  which 
thou  shalt  now  hear  from  me.  Seest  thou  this 
great  ruin  of  rocks  ?  Here  in  old  time  was  a  cave, 
running  very  deep  into  the  cliff,  wherein  Cacus 
dwelt,  a  monster  but  half  man,  whose  father  was 
Vulcan.  The  ground  thereof  reeked  with  blood, 
and  at  the  mouth  were  fixed  the  heads  of  dead 
men.  Very  great  of  stature  was  he,  and  breathed 
out  fire  from  his  mouth.  To  this  land  came  Her- 
cules driving  before  him  the  oxen  of  Geryon,  whom 
he  had  slain.  And  when  he  had  left  these  to  feed 
in  the  valley  by  the  river,  Cacus,  that  he  might  fill 
up  the  measure  of  his  wickedness,  stole  four  bulls 
and  four  heifers,  the  very  chiefest  of  the  herd. 


KING  EVANDER.  143 

And  that  he  might  conceal  the  thing,  he  dragged 
them  by  the  tails  backward,  so  that  the  tracks  led 
not  to  the  cave.  But  it  chanced  that  the  herd  made 
a  great  bellowing  when  Hercules  would  have  driven 
them  away  in  the  morning.  And  one  of  the 
heifers  which  Cacus  hadhidden  in  the  cavebellowed 
also,  making  answer.  Then  was  Hercules  very 
wroth,  and  caught  up  in  his  hand  his  great  knotted 
club,  and  climbed  to  the  top  of  the  hill.  Then  was 
Cacus  sore  afraid,  and  fled  to  his  cave  swift  as  the 
wind,  fear  giving  wings  to  his  feet.  And  when  he 
was  come  thither,  he  shut  himself  therein,  letting 
fall  a  great  stone  which  he  had  caused  to  hang 
over  the  mouth  thereof  by  cunning  devices  that  he 
had  learned  from  his  father.  And  when  Hercules 
was  come  he  sought  to  find  entrance  and  could  not ; 
but  at  the  last  he  saw  one  of  the  rocks  that  it  was 
very  high  and  leaned  to  the  river.  This  he  pushed 
from  the  other  side,  so  that  it  fell  with  a  great 
crash  into  the  water.  Then  did  the  whole  cave  of 
Cacns  lie  open  to  view,  horrible  to  behold,  asthough 
the  earth  were  to  open  her  mouth  and  show  the 
regions  of  the  dead.  And  first  Hercules  shot  at 
the  monster  with  arrows,  and  cast  boughs  and  great 
stones  at  him ;  and  Cacus  vomited  forth  from  his 
mouth  fire  and  smoke,  filling  the  whole  cave.  And 
Hercules  endured  not  to  be  so  baffled,  but  plunged 
into  the  cave,  even  where  the  smoke  was  thickest, 
and  caught  him,  twining  his  arms  and  legs  about 
him,  and  strangled  him,  that  he  died.  Of  which 
deed,  0  my  friends,  we  keep  the  remembrance  year 


144  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

by  year.  Do  ye,  therefore,  join  in  our  feast,  put- 
ting first  wreaths  of  poplar  about  your  heads,  for 
the  poplar  is  the  tree  of  Hercules." 

So  they  feasted ;  and  the  priests,  even  the  Salii, 
being  in  two  companies,  young  and  old,  sang  the 
great  deeds  of  Hercules :  how,  being  yet  an  infant, 
he  strangled  the  snakes  that  Juno  sent  to  slay  him, 
and  overthrew  mighty  cities,  and  endured  many 
grievous  labors,  slaying  the  Centaurs  and  the  lion 
of  Xemea;  and  how  he  went  down  to  hell,  and 
dragged  the  dog  Cerberus  therefrom,  and  many 
other  things  likewise. 

And  at  even  they  went  back  to  the  city,  and  as 
they  went  Evander  told  yEneas  many  things  con- 
cerning the  country:  how  of  old  a  savage  race 
dwelt  therein,  living  even  as  the  beasts,  whom 
Saturn,  flying  from  his  son  Jupiter,  first  taught, 
giving  them  customs  and  laws;  and  how  other 
kings  also  had  borne  rule  over  them,  and  how  he 
himself  had  come  to  the  land  at  the  bidding  of 
Apollo.  Also  he  showed  him  the  city  which  he 
had  founded,  and  the  places  thereof :  very  famous 
were  they  in  after-time,  then  mighty  Rome  was 
builded,  even  on  the  selfsame  ground.  And  when 
they  came  to  his  palace  he  said,  "  Hercules  entered 
this  dwelling,  though  indeed  it  be  small  and  lowly. 
Think  not,  then,  overmuch  of  riches,  and  so  make 
thyself  worthy  to  ascend  to  heaven,  as  he  also 
ascended." 

Then  he  led  him  within  the  palace,  and  bade  him 
rest  on  a  couch,  whereon  was  spread  the  skin  of  an 
African  bear. 


HERCULES  IN  BATTLE  WITH  A  CENTAUR. 

Flore  n  ce .     Joli  n  of  Jiolog  n  a . 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE  ARMS  OF  AENEAS. 

VERY  early  the  next  morning  the  old  man 
Evander  rose  up  from  his  bed,  and  donned  his 
iunic,  and  bound  his  Tuscan  sandals  on  his  feet, 
and  girt  his  Tegean  sword  to  his  side,  flinging  a 
panther's  hide  over  his  left  shoulder.  Pallas, 
his  son,  also  went  with  him.  And  two  hounds, 
which  lay  by  his  chamber,  followed  him.  For  he 
would  fain  have  speech  with  ^Eneas,  whom,  in- 
deed, he  found  astir,  and  Achates  with  him.  Then 
spake  Evander:  "Great  chief  of  Troy,  good  will 
have  we,  but  scanty  means;  for  our  folk  are  few 
and  our  bounds  narrow.  But  I  will  tell  thee  of  a 
great  people  and  a  wealthy,  with  whom  thou  may- 
est  make  alliance.  Nigh  to  this  place  is  the  famous 
city  Agylla,  which  the  men  of  Lydia,  settling  in 
this  land  of  Etruria,  builded  aforetime.  Now  of 
this  Agylla  Mezentius  was  king,  who  surpassed  all 
men  in  wickedness.  For  he  would  join  a  living 
man  to  a  dead  corpse,  and  so  leave  him  to  perish 
miserably.  But  after  awhile  the  citizens  rebelled, 
saying  that  he  should  not  reign  over  them,  and 
slew  his  guards  and  burnt  his  palace.  But  on  him 
they  laid  not  hands,  for  he  fled  to  Prince  Turnus. 
10  145 


146  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

Therefore  there  is  war  between  Turnus  and  Agylla. 
Now  in  this  war  thou  shalt  be  leader;  for  as  yet 
when  they  would  have  gone  forth  to  battle,  the 
soothsayers  have  hindered  them,  saying,  '  Though 
your  wrath  against  Mezentius  be  just,  yet  must  no 
man  of  Italy  lead  this  people ;  but  look  you  for  a 
stranger.'  And  they  would  fain  have  had  me  for 
their  leader,  but  I  am  old  and  feeble.  And  my  son 
Pallas  also  is  akin  to  them,  seeing  that  he  was 
born  of  a  Sabine  mother.  But  thou  art  in  thy 
prime,  and  altogether  a  stranger  in  race.  Where- 
fore take  this  office  upon  thyself.  Pallas  also 
shall  go  with  thee,  and  learn  from  thee  to  bear 
himself  as  a  warior.  Also  I  will  send  with  thee 
two  hundred  chosen  horsemen,  and  Pallas  will  give 
thee  as  many." 

And  even  before  he  had  made  an  end  of  speak- 
ing, Venus  gave  them  a  sign,  even  thunder  in  a 
clear  sky;  and  there  was  heard  a  voice  as  of  a 
Tuscan  trumpet,  and  when  they  looked  to  the 
heavens,  lo!  there  was  a  flashing  of  arms. 

And  J^neas  knew  the  sign  and  the  interpreta- 
tion thereof,  even  that  he  should  prosper  in  that 
to  which  he  set  his  hand.  Therefore  he  bade 
Evander  be  of  good  cheer.  Then  again  they  did 
sacrifice,  and  afterwards  ^Eneas  returned  to  his 
companions,  of  whom  he  chose  some,  and  them  the 
bravest,  who  should  go  with  him  to  Agylla,  and 
the  rest  he  bade  return  to  lulus,  to  the  camp. 

But  when  he  was  now  ready  to  depart,  Evander 
took  him  by  the  hand,  saying,  "  0  that  Jupiter 


THE   ARMS   OF  JENEAS.  147 

would  give  me  back  the  years  that  are  gonc^  when 
I  slew,  tinder  Promcste,  King  Erulus,  to  whom  at 
his  birth  his  mother,  Feroniav  gave  three  lives. 
Thrice  must  he  needs  be  slain  and  thrice  I  slew 
him.  Then  had  I  not  parted  from  thee,  my  son, 
nor  had  the  wicked  Mezentius  slain  so  many  of  my 
people.  And  now,  may  the  Gods  hear  my  prayer: 
If  it  be  their  pleasure  that  Pallas  should  come 
back,  may  I  live  to  sec  it;  but  if  not,  may  I  die 
even  now  while  I  hold  thee  in  my  arms,  my  son, 
my  one  and  only  joy." 

And  his  spirit  left  the  old  man,  and  they  carried 
him  into  the  palace.  Then  the  horsemen  rode  out 
from  the  gates,  with  Pallas  in  the  midst,  adorned 
with  mantle  and  blazoned  arms,  fair  as  the  Morn- 
ing Star,  which  Venus  loves  beyond  all  others  in 
the  sky.  The  women  stood  watching  them  from 
the  walls,  while  they  shouted  aloud  and  galloped 
across  the  plain.  And  after  a  while  they  came  to 
a  grove,  near  to  which  the  Etruscans  and  Tarchon, 
their  leader,  had  pitched  their  camp. 

Now  in  the  meantime  Venus  had  bestirred  her- 
self, for  her  son,  for  while  he  slept  in  the  palace  of 
Evander  she  spake  to  her  husband,  even  Vulcan, 
saying,  "While  the  Greeks  were  fighting  against 
Troy,  I  sought  not  thy  help,  for  I  would  not  that 
thou  shouldst  labor  in  vain ;  but  now  that  ^Eneas 
is  come  to  Italy  by  the  command  of  the  Gods,  I 
ask  thee  that  thou  shouldst  make  arms  and  armor 
for  my  son.  This  Aurora  asked  for  Memnon; 
this  Thetis  for  Achilles,  and  thou  grantedst  it  to 


148  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

them.  And  now  thou  seest  how  the  nations  join 
themselves  to  destroy  him.  Wherefore  I  pray 
thee  to  help  me."  And  he  hearkened  to  her  voice. 
Therefore  when  the  morning  was  come,  very 
early,  even  as  a  woman  who  maketh  her  living  by 
the  distaff  riseth  and  kindleth  her  fire,  and  giveth 
tasks  to  her  maidens,  that  she  may  provide  for  her 
husband  and  her  children,  even  so  Vulcan  rose  be- 
times to  his  work.  Now  there  is  an  island,  Lipare, 
nigh  unto  the  shore  of  Sicily,  and  there  the  god 
had  set  up  his  furnace  and  anvil,  and  the  Cyclopes 
were  at  work,  forging  thunderbolts  for  Jupiter, 
whereof  one  remained  half  wrought.  Three  parts 
of  hail  had  they  used,  and  three  of  rain-cloud,  and 
three  of  red  fire  and  the  south  wind ;  and  now  they 
were  adding  to  it  lightning,  and  noise,  and  fear, 
and  wrath,  with  avenging  flames.  And  elsewhere 
they  wrought  a  chariot  for  Mars  and  a  shirt  of 
mail  for  Minerva.,  even  the  ^gis,  with  golden 
scales  as  of  a  serpent,  and  in  the  midst  the  Gor- 
gon's head,  lopped  at  the  nape,  with  rolling  eyes. 
But  the  god  cried,  "  Cease  ye  your  toils.  Ye  must 
make  arms  for  a  hero."  Then  they  all  bent  them  to 
their  toil.  Then  bronze,  and  gold,  and  iron  flowed 
in  streams ;  and  some  plied  the  bellows,  and  others 
dipped  the  hissing  mass  in  water,  and  a  third 
turned  the  ore  in  griping  pincers. 

A  helmet  they  made  with  nodding  crest,  that 
blazed  like  fire,  and  a  sword,  and  a  cuirass  of 
ruddy  bronze,  and  greaves  of  gold  molten  many 
times,  and  a  spear,  and  a  shield  whereon  was 


THE   ARMS  OF  AENEAS.  149 

wrought  a  marvellous  story  of  things  to  come.  For 
the  god  had  set  forth  all  the  story  of  Koine.  There 
lay  the  she-wolf  in  the  cave  of  Mars,  suckling  the 
twin  babes  that  feared  her  not — and  she,  bending 
back  her  neck ,  licked  them  with  her  tongue ;  and 
there  the  men  of  Kome  carried  off  the  Sabine  vir- 
gins to  be  their  wives;  and  hard  by  the  battle 
raged,  and  there  again  the  kings  made  peace  to- 
gether, with  offerings  and  sacrifice.  Also  there 
were  wrought  the  chariots  that  tore  asunder  Met- 
tus  of  Alba  for  his  treachery,  and  Porsenna  bid- 
ding the  Eomans  take  back  their  king,  besieging 
the  city,  but  the  men  of  Rome  stood  in  arms  against 
him.  Angry  and  threatening  stood  the  king  to 
see  how  Codes  broke  down  the  bridge,  and  Cloelia 
burst  her  bonds  to  swim  across  the  river.  There 
Manlius  stood  to  guard  the  Capitol,  and  a  goose 
of  silver  flapped  his  wings  in  arcades  of  gold,  and 
showed  the  Gauls  at  hand.  And  they,  under  cover 
of  the  darkness,  were  climbing  through  the  thick- 
ets even  to  the  edge  of  the  hill.  Their  hair  was 
wrought  in  gold,  in  gold  their  raiment ;  and  their 
cloaks  were  of  divers  colors  crossed;  milk-white 
their  necks  and  clasped  with  gold;  two  spears  had 
each  and  an  oblong  shield.  Likewise  he  wrought 
the  dwellings  of  the  dead,  of  the  just  and  of  the 
unjust.  Here  Catiline  hung  from  the  rock  while 
the  Furies  threatened  him ;  there  Cato  gave  the 
people  laws.  And  all  about  was  the  sea  wrought 
in  gold;  but  the  waves  were  blue,  and  white  the 
foam,  and  therein  sported  dolphins  of  silver.  But 


150  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

in  the  midst  was  wrought  a  great  battle  of  ships  at 
the  cape  of  Actium.  On  the  one  side  Augustus  led 
the  men  of  Italy  to  battle,  standing  very  high  on 
the  stern  of  the  ship.  From  either  temple  of  his 
head  blazed  forth  a  fire.  And  Agrippa  also  led  on 
his  array  with  a  naval  crown  about  his  head.  And 
on  the  other  side  stood  Anthony,  having  with  him 
barbarous  soldiers  arrayed  in  divers  fashions,  and 
leading  to  battle  Egypt  and  Persia  and  the  armies 
of  the  East ;  and  lo !  behind  him — a  shameful 
sight — his  Egyptian  wife.  But  in  another  part 
the  battle  raged,  and  all  the  sea  was  in  a  foam 
with  oars  and  triple  beaks.  It  seemed  as  though 
islands  were  torn  from  their  places,  or  mountain 
clashed  against  mountain,  so  great  was  the  shock 
of  the  ships.  And  all  about  flew  javelins  with 
burning  tow,  and  the  sea  was  red  with  blood.  In 
the  midst  stood  Queen  Cleopatra,  with  a  timbrel 
in  her  hand,  and  called  her  armies  to  the  battle : 
behind  her  you  might  see  the  snakes  by  whose  bite 
she  should  die.  And  on  one  side  the  dog  Anubis, 
with  other  monstrous  shapes  of  gods,  and  over 
against  them  Xoptune,  and  Venus,  and  Minerva. 
And  in  the  midst  Mars  was  seen  to  rage  embossed 
in  steel ;  and  the  Furies  hovered  above,  and  Dis- 
cord stalked  with  garment  rent,  while  above 
Apollo  stretched  his  bow,  and  Egyptian  and  In- 
dian and  Arab  fled  before  him.  And  in  a  third 
place  great  Caesar  rode  through  Rome  in  triumph, 
and  the  city  was  full  of  joy,  and  the  matrons  were 
gathered  in  the  temples  ;  and  through  the  street 


THE    ARMS   OF   AENEAS.  151 

there  passed  a  long  array  of  nations  that  he  had 
conquered  from  the  east  and  from  the  west,  and 
from  the  north,  and  from  the  south.  Such  was  the 
shield  which  Arulcan  wrought. 

And  Venus,  when  she  saw  her  son  that  none  was 
with  him, — for  he  had  wandered  apart  from  his 
companions,  brought  the  arms  and  laid  them 
down  before  him,  saying,  "  See  the  arms  that  I 
promised  I  would  give  thee.  These  my  husband, 
the  Fire-god,  hath  wrought  for  thee.  With  these 
thou  needst  shun  no  enemy;  no,  not  Turnus  him- 
self." Eight  glad  was  he  to  see  them,  and  fitted 
them  upon  him,  and  swung  the  shield  upon  his 
shoulder,  nor  knew  what  mighty  fates  of  his  chil- 
dren he  bare  thereon. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

NISUS  AND   EURYALUS. 

BUT  Juno,  ever  seeking  occasion  against  the  men 
of  Troy,  sent  Iris,  the  messenger  of  tho  Gods,  to 
Turnus,  as  he  sat  in  the  grove  of  Pilumnus  his 
father.  Iris  said  "  That  which  none  of  the  Gods 
had  dared  to  promise  thee,  lo!  time  itself  hath 
brought.  ./Eneas  hath  left  his  companions  and 
his  ship,  seeking  the  city  of  Evander,  yea,  and  the 
Tuscans  also.  Do  thou,  therefore,,  take  the  occa- 
sion and  surprise  the  camp  while  he  is  yet  ab- 
sent." 

And  she  spread  her  wings  and  mounted  to 
heaven  by  the  arch  of  the  rainbow,  and  Turnus 
cried,  "  I  know  theei,  goddess,  and  follow  thy 
sign."  And  having  first  washed  his  hands,  he 
prayed  and  vowed  his  vows  to  the  Gods. 

So  the  army  went  forth  to  the  battle.  Messa- 
pus  led  the  first  line,  and  the  sons  of  Tyrrheus  the 
rear;  and  in  the  midst  was  Turnus.  And  the 
men  of  Troy  saw  a  great  cloud  of  dust  upon  the 
plain,  and  Cacus  cried  from  the  walls,  "  What 
meaneth  this  cloud  that  I  see?  To  arms,  my 
friends.  Climb  the  walls.  The  enemy  is  at 
hand."  Then  did  the  men  of  Troy  shut  the  gates 
152 


NISUS   AND   EURYALUS.  153 

and  man  the  walls.  For  so  had  .Eneas  com- 
manded them,  saying,  "  Fight  not,  whatever  be- 
fall in  battle,  nor  trust  yourselves  to  the  plain, 
but  defend  your  walls."  Therefore  they  shut 
their  gates,  and  waited  till  the  enemy  should 
come  near.  And  Turnus,  on  a  horse  of  Thrace, 
rode  first,  and  twenty  youths  with  him;  and  he 
cried,  "  Is  there  a  man  who  will  first  venture  the 
attack  ?  "  and  he  threw  his  javelin,  making  a  be- 
ginning of  battle,  and  his  companions  shouted 
aloud.  Much  they  marveled  that  the  men  of 
Troy  kept  them  within  the  walls  and  came  not 
forth  to  the  battle.  And  Turnus  ever  regarded 
the  walls,  how  he  might  enter  therein.  Even  as 
a  wolf  prowleth  round  the  fold  at  midnight,  while 
the  lambs  within  bleat,  being  safe  by  their 
mothers,  but  he  rageth  without  to  hear  them,  being 
mad  with  wrath  and  hunger,  and  his  tongue  is 
thirst  for  blood,  even  so  did  Turnus  rage  round 
the  camp,  and  cast  about  how  he  might  draw 
forth  the  men  of  Troy  into  the  plain.  And  at 
the  last  he  bethought  him  of  the  ships,  which  lay 
at  the  camp's  side,  and  called  for  torches  of  pine, 
and  the  people  followed  him  with  a  shout,  and 
the  smoke  rose  up  to  the  heavens. 

Then  did  a  marvelous  thing  befall.  Now  in 
the  days  when  yEneas  was  building  his  ships  upon 
Mount  Ida,  Cybele,  mother  of  the  Gods,  spake  to 
Jupiter,  saying  "  Grant,  my  son,  that  these  ships, 
which  -^Eneas  builded  of  my  pine-trees, — for  these 
have  I  given  to  him  freely, — may  be  safe  from 


154  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

winds  and  waves."  But  Jupiter  answered,  "  What 
is  this  that  thou  askest,  my  mother?  Wouldst 
thou  have  immortality  for  mortal  ships  ?  Not  so. 
But  this  I  grant:  that  whichsoever  of  these  shall 
come  safe  to  the  land  of  Italy  shall  become 
Nymphs  of  the  sea."  And  now  the  day  was  come. 
Wherefore  there  was  heard  an  awful  voice,  saying, 
"  Fear  not,  men  of  Troy ;  nor  care  to  defend  your 
ships,"  and  to  the  ships,  "  Go !  henceforth  ye  are 
Nymphs  of  the  sea.  And  lo!  straightway  the 
cables  brake,  and  where  the  ships  had  been  were 
the  shapes  of  women,  for  each  ship  a  woman. 

Much  did  the  Latins  wonder  to  behold  the 
thing,  and  Tiber  stayed  his  stream  to  see  it.  But 
Turnus  trembled  not,  crying,  "  This  marvel 
meaneth  evil  for  the  men  of  Troy.  Their  ships 
abide  not  our  attack.  Nor  have  they  any  longer 
that  wherewith  they  may  flee  from  us.  And  ari 
for  fate,  I  heed  it  not.  It  was  the  fate  of  the 
men  of  Troy  that  they  should  touch  the  land  of 
Italy.  It  is  my  fate  that  I  should  destroy  the  ac- 
cursed race.  They  rob  me  of  my  wife.  That 
wrong  toucheth  others  besides  Menelaiis.  Surely, 
it  had  been  enough  to  perish  once.  But  why, 
then,  will  they  sin  again?  It  had  been  well  had 
they  loathed  thereafter  all  womankind.  Or  do 
they  think  that  this  rampart  shall  protect  them? 
Did  they  not  see  the  walls  which  Neptune  builded 
settle  down  in  the  fire?  And  now,  who  cometh 
with  me  to  storm  their  camp?  I  need  not  arms 
from  Vulcan's  forge,  or  a  thousand  ships.  Deeds 


NISUS   AND   EURYALUS.  155 

of  darkness  and  of  stealth  they  need  not  fear. 
We  will  not  hide  us  in  a  Horse  of  wood.  In  day- 
light will  we  burn  their  walls.  For  surely  the 
youth  of  Italy  is  not  as  the  youth  of  Greece,  whom 
Hector  kept  at  bay  for  ten  years."  Then  he  com- 
manded that  they  should  lay  siege  to  the  camp; 
and  Messapus  he  sat  to  watch  the  gate,  and  four- 
teen Rutulian  chiefs,  with  each  a  hundred  youths, 
kept  guard  on  the  walls.  So  all  the  night  they 
watched,  and  feasted,  and  drank,  and  made  merry. 

But  the  men  of  Troy  labored  meanwhile,  mak- 
ing strong  the  gates  and  the  towers  of  the  walls. 
And  Mnestheus  and  Sergestus  were  instant  with 
command  and  exhortation,  for  yEneas  had  ap- 
pointed them  to  this  thing  should  any  need  arise, 
he  being  absent. 

Now  the  keeper  of  the  gate  was  Nisus,  a  val- 
iant man  of  war,  and  with  him  Euryalus,  the 
goodliest  youth  among  the  men  of  Troy;  and 
great  love  was  between  them.  And  as  they 
watchecl,  Nisus  said,  "  Whether  it  be  a  bidding  of 
the  Gods,  or  prompting  of  my  own  heart,  I  know 
not,  but  I  have  a  great  desire  to  do  somewa?t 
this  night.  Seest  thou  how  the  enemy  lie  asleep 
and  drunken  ?  Can  I  not  win  some  honor  hence, 
and  carry  the  tidings  of  these  things  to  ^Eneas? 
For  yonder  by  the  hill  lieth  the  way  to  the  city 
of  Evander." 

Then  Euryalus  made  answer :  "  Nay,  but  thou 
goest  not  alone,  Nisus,  nor  leavest  me.  My  father 
Opheltes  trained  me  not  to  such  baseness,  nor  have 


156  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

I  so  borne  myself  in  thy  company.  And  truly  I 
should  count  life  well  lost  for  such  honor." 

Then  said  Nisus :  "  I  thought  not  so  ill  of 
thee.  So  may  Jupiter  bring  me  back  in  safety 
and  honor.  Yet  should  some  mischance  befall 
I  would  that  thou  yet  shouldst  live,  to  buy  my 
body  back,  or,  if  that  may  not  be,  to  pay  due 
honor  to  my  spirit.  Think,  too,  of  thy  mother, 
who,  alone  of  all  thy  mothers  of  Troy,  hath,  for 
love  of  thee,  come  to  this  land  of  Italy." 

But  Euryalus  said :  "  Thou  makest  idle  ex- 
cuses, for  I  am  steadfastly  purposed  to  go.  Let 
us  hasten,  therefore."  So  they  woke  those  who 
should  take  their  places  at  the  gate,  and  sought 
speeech  of  the  chiefs.  These  indeed  were  hold- 
ing counsel,  and  stood  leaning  on  their  spears  in 
the  midst  of  the  camp.  And  Nisus  said  that  he 
had  somewhat  to  say,  and  that  the  matter  pressed. 
Then  lulus  bade  him  speak;  and  he  made  an- 
swer :  "  The  enemy  lie  sleeping  and  drunken 
about  the  walls,  and  the  fires  are  extinguished.  If 
fortune  favor  us  we  will  win  our  way  to  .'Eneas, 
to  the  city  of  Evander,  and  slay  many,  and  take 
much  spoil  likewise.  The  way  indeed  we  know, 
having  learnt  it  while  we  hunted  in  these  parts." 
Then  the  old  man  Aletes  said :  "  Surely,  Troy 
hath  not  altogether  perished,  having  yet  such 
hearts  as  yours."  And  he  threw  his  arms  about 
them,  weeping.  And  lulus  said,  "  Bring  back  my 
father,  and  all  shall  be  well.  And  I  will  give  you 
two  cups  of  silver  embossed  with  figures  of  men, 


NISUS   AND   EURYALUS.  157 

which  my  father  took  from  the  city  of  Arisba. 
And  if  we  subdue  this  land  of  Italy,  thou,  Nisus, 
shalt  have  the  horses  and  the  arms  of  Turnus, 
and  twelve  women-captives  likewise,  and  twelve 
men  with  their  arms,  and  the  domain  of  King 
Latinus.  And  thou,  Euryalus,  who  art  nearer  of 
age  to  me,  shalt  be  next  to  myself  in  all  things." 

Then  Euryalus  made  answer :  "  One  thing  I 
ask  thee  more.  I  have  a  mother,  of  the  lineage 
of  Priam.  To  her  I  say  not  farewell,  not  being 
able  to  endure  her  tears.  Do  thou  care  for  her, 
if  she  be  bereaved  of  me."  And  liilus  said: 
"  She  shall  be  as  my  mother  to  me." 

Then  he  gave  him  his  own  sword,  with  its  scab- 
bard of  ivory,  and  Mnestheus  gave  to  Nisus  a 
lion's  skin,  and  Aletes  a  helmet.  And  all  went 
with  them  to  the  gates,  with  many  prayers  and 
vows;  also  liilus,  being  wise  beyond  his  years, 
sent  many  messages  to  his  father. 

Then  they  crossed  the  moat,  and  came  upon  the 
enemy  as  they  slept,  Nisus  being  before,  and 
Euryalus  keeping  watch  lest  any  should  assail 
them  from  behind.  And  first  Nisus  slew  Rhamnes 
as  he  slept :  an  augur  he  was,  whom  Turnus  most 
trusted,  yet  he  knew  not  his  own  doom.  Next 
he  slew  the  three  servants  and  the  armor-bearer 
and  the  charioteer  of  Remus,  and,  after,  Remus 
himself,  cutting  off  his  head.  Others  also  he 
slew,  and  among  them  Serranus,  a  fair  youth,  who 
had  been  foremost  in  his  sport  that  night.  It 
had  been  well  for  him  had  he  prolonged  it  even 


158  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

unto  dawn.  Many  also  did  Euryalus  slay,  all  of 
them  in  their  sleep,  pave  Rhoetus  only,  who,  being 
a\  ake,  would  fain  have  hidden  himself  behind  a 
great  jar,  but  could  not.  But  when  he  would 
have  assailed  Messapus  and  his  comrades,  Nisus, 
seeing  that  he  was  mastered  by  the  love  of 
slaughter,  cried  aloud,  "  Cease :  the  day  approach- 
eth.  It  is  enough  that  we  have  made  us  a  way 
through  the  enemy."  Much  spoil  did  they  leave 
behind  them;  but  Euryalus  took  a  sword-belt 
with  knobs  of  gold  from  Rhamnes — Caedicus  gave 
it  to  Remulus  of  Tibur,  and  he  to  his  grandson, 
from  whom  Rhamnes  had  won  it  in  war — and  put 
on  his  head  the  helmet  of  Messapus.  So  they  de- 
parted from  the  camp. 

But  it  so  chanced  that  three  hundred  horse- 
men, with  Volscens  their  leader,  were  riding  to 
the  camp  from  the  city.  And  as  they  came  nigh, 
one  of  them  espied,  in  the  light  of  the  moon,  the 
helmet  which  Euryalus,  being  but  a  youth  and 
unwary,  had  put  on  him.  And  Volscens  cried, 
"Who  are  ye?  Whither  do  ye  go?" 

But  they  answered  nothing,  making  haste  to 
fly.  Then  Volscens  commanded  that  they  should 
keep  the  wood  on  every  side.  Very  thick  it  was 
with  dark  ilex-trees  and  brambles.  And  Eurya- 
lus,  indeed,  being  laden  with  his  spoil  and  fear- 
ful, wandered  from  the  way,  but  Nisus  got  him- 
self clear.  But  when  he  came  to  the  stalls  where 
they  kept  the  cattle  of  King  Latinus,  he  knew 
himself  to  be  alone,  and  looked  round  for  his 


NISUS  AND   EURYALUS.  159 

companion,  but  saw  aim  not.  Then  returning  he 
searched  through  the  wood  till  he  heard  the 
sound  of  horsemen  approaching ;  and  lo !  Eurya- 
lus  was  in  the  midst,  seeking  to  get  free,  but  could 
not.  Forthwith,  having  first  prayed  to  Diana 
that  she  would  help  him,  if  perchance  he  might 
scatter  this  company,  he  cast  his  spear.  It 
pierced  the  back  of  Sulmo,  and  passed  even 
through  his  heart.  And  while  they  all  looked, 
lo !  another  spear,  and  it  pierced  the  head  of  Tagus 
from  temple  to  temple.  Very  wroth  was  Volscens 
to  see  such  slaughter,  and  know  not  how  it  befell ; 
and  he  cried,  "  Thou  at  least  shalt  suffer  for  these 
deeds,"  and  flew  upon  Euryalus.  This  could  not 
Nisus  endure  to  see,  but  rushed  from  his  hiding- 
place,  and  cried,  "  Lo !  I  am  the  man  ^  -ho  wrought 
this  slaughter.  Turn  your  swords  against  me. 
He  did  not,  nay,  he  could  not  do  such  deeds.  He 
did  but  follow  his  friend."  But  not  the  less  did 
the  sword  of  Volscens  pierce  the  side  of  Euryalus ; 
and  the  blood  gushed  out  over  his  fair  body,  and 
his  head  drooped,  even  as  a  flower,  which  the 
plow-share  cuts  in  the  field,  or  a  poppy  whose 
stalk  is  broken.  Then  rushed  Nisus  into  the 
midst,  thinking  only  how  he  might  slay  Volscens  j 
nor  could  the  enemy  stay  him,  but  that  he  thrust 
his  sword  into  his  mouth  and  slew  him.  And 
afterwards,  being  pierced  with  many  wounds,  he 
fell  dead  upon  the  body  of  his  friend. 

But  when  the  horsemen  were  come  to  the  camp, 
they  found  the  slaughter  that  had  been  done.  And 


160  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

when  the  day  dawned  they  set  the  battle  in  array 
against  the  men  of  Troy,  and  the  heads  of  Nisus 
and  Euryalus  they  fixed  upon  poles,  and  showed 
them. 

But  when  the  report  of  these  things  came  to 
the  ears  of  the  mother  of  Euryalus,  she  threw 
down  her  distaff,  and  hasted  through  the  camp; 
and  coming  to  the  wall,  she  cried,  "  Is  it  thus  I 
see  thee,  my  son  ?  Why  was  it  not  granted  to  me 
to  bid  thee  farewell?  And  now  I  may  not  close 
thine  eyes  or  wrap  thee  in  the  garments  which  I 
have  made,  solacing  my  cares  with  the  labors  of 
the  loom.  Slay  me  with  your  spears,  ye  Latins; 
or  thou,  great  Jupiter,  smite  me  with  thy  thunder, 
since  I  may  not  rid  me  otherwise  of  this  hateful 
life." 

But  when  with  her  wailing  she  touched  the 
hearts  of  the  men  so  that  they  forgat  their  valor, 
Ilioneus  and  liilus  commanded  Idaeus  and  Actor 
that  they  should  lay  hands  upon  her  and  carry 
her  to  her  dwelling. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  CAMP. 

AND  now  the  trumpet  gave  the  signal  for  bat- 
tle. First  the  Volscians  drew  near  to  the  wall. 
These  held  their  shields  over  their  heads,  joining 
them  in  close  array  so  that  they  were  like  unto 
the  shell  of  a  tortoise,  and  they  that  bare  them 
filled  the  moat  and  pulled  down  the  wall.  And 
some  would  have  mounted  the  walls  on  ladders; 
while  the  men  of  Troy  cast  spears  at  them  and 
thrust  at  them  with  poles,  being  indeed  well  used 
to  the  manner  of  such  a  fight  from  walls.  But 
on  the  covering  of  shields  they  threw  down  a  huge 
block,  breaking  it  through  and  scattering  the  men, 
who  would  not  indeed  fight  any  more  in  such 
fashion,  but  cast  all  manner  of  javelins  and  the 
like  against  the  men  of  Troy.  And  Mezentius  the 
Tuscan  came  on,  shaking  a  lighted  torch  of  pine 
in  his  hand,  and  Messapus  tore  down  the  ram- 
part and  called  for  a  scaling-ladder,  that  he  might 
mount  up  into  the  breach. 

Now  there  was  a  tower  upon  the  wall,  which 
the  Italians  sought  to  take,  and  the  men  of  Troy 
to  defend  it  cast  stones  and  darts  through  the  loop- 
holes thereof.  On  to  this  Turnus  cast  a  torch, 
11  161 


162  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

settting  fire  to  the  wall,  and  the  flame,  the  wind 
fanning  it,  climbed  from  story  to  story.  And 
when  they  that  were  therein  fled  to  the  part  that 
was  yet  unconsumed,  lo !  the  whole  tower  fell  for- 
ward, and  all  perished,  two  only  escaping,  Hel- 
enor  and  Lycus.  And  Helenor  was  the  elder,  and 
when  he  saw  that  the  enemy  was  about  him  on 
every  side,  then,  even  as  a  beast  which  the  hunters 
compass  about  with  a  great  ring  waxeth  desperate 
and  flingeth  himself  over  the  nets  upon  their 
spears,  so  he  threw  himself  on  the  ranks  of  the 
Latins  where  the  spears  were  thickest,  and  so 
died.  But  Lycus  was  very  swift  of  foot,  and  won 
even  as  far  as  the  wall,  and  would  fain  have 
climbed  thereon.  But  Turnus  caught  him,  cry- 
ing, "  Thinkest  thou  to  escape  me  ?  "  and  he  laid 
hands  upon  him  as  he  hung  from  the  wall,  drag- 
ging down  much  v  all  likewise :  even  as  an  eagle 
seizes  a  swan  or  a  wolf  a  lamb,  so  he  seized  him. 
Then  did  the  battle  wax  fiercer  and  fiercer,  and 
many  fell  on  this  side  and  on  that.  For  Ilioneus 
smote  Lucetius  when  he  would  have  set  fire  to 
the  gates,  and  Capys  slew  Privernus,  and  Mezen- 
tius,  having  cast  away  his  spear,  smote  the  son 
of  Arcens  with  a  bullet  of  lead  from  his  sling. 

And  now  lulus,  having  used  his  bow  aforetime 
on  beasts  of  the  field  only,  now  first  drew  it  against 
a  man,  even  against  Numanus,  who  had  to  wife 
the  sister  of  Turnus.  For  this  Numanus,  think- 
ing himself  to  be  some  great  one,  stood  in  the 
front  rank,  and  defied  the  men  of  Troy,  saving. 


THE   BATTLE   AT  THE   CAMP.  103 

"  Are  ye  not  ashamed,  ye  that  have  already  been 
twice  conquered,  now  to  be  besieged  again?  What 
madness  brought  you  to  Italy?  We  are  a  hardy 
race,  for  our  new-born  babes  are  dipped  in  the 
stream,  and  our  boys  are  hunters  in  the  woods; 
and  when  we  be  men  our  hands  are  ever  on  the 
plowshare  or  the  sword,  yea^  and  old  age  sub- 
dues us  not,  for  when  our  hair  is  white  yet  do  we 
cover  it  with  the  helmet.  But  ye  with  your  man- 
tles of  purple  and  saffron,  and  sleeved  tunics,  and 
ribboned  miters,  lovers  of  sleep  and  of  the  dance, 
ye  men,  nay  rather  ye  women,  of  Phrygia,  what 
do  ye  here  ?  " 

But  the  young  lulus  endured  not  to  hear  such 
boasting.  He  fixed  an  arrow  in  his  bow  and  drew 
the  string,  which  was  of  horsehair,  and  ere  he  let 
fly,  he  cried  to  Jupiter,  "  Help  me  now,  great 
Father  so  will  I  bring,  year  by  year,  to  thy  tem- 
ple a  steer  with  gilded  horns."  And  Jupiter 
heard,  and  thundered  on  the  left  hand.  And  now, 
together  with  the  thunder,  clanged  the  bow-string, 
sending  death,  and  the  arrow  hissed  in  the  air  and 
smote  Numanus  through  the  head,  even  from 
temple  to  temple.  "  This  is  the  answer  that  the 
twice-conquered  men  of  Troy  send  thee."  So  cried 
the  young  lulus,  and  all  the  people  shouted  for 
joy.  And  Apollo,  where  he  sat  in  heaven  and  re- 
garded the  battle,  spake,  "  Go  thou  on  as  thou  be- 
ginnest,  child  and  father  of  gods:  'tis  thus  that 
the  race  of  Troy  shall  hereafter  bring  all  wars  to 
an  end.'  Then  he  came  down  from  heaven  into 


ICi  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

the  camp  of  Troy,  and  took  upon  himself  the  shape 
of  the  old  man  Butes:  he  had  been  aforetime  the 
armor-bearer  of  Anchises,  and  now  followed 
liilus.  And  the  gods  spake,  saying,  "  It  is  enough 
that  thou  hast  slain  the  boaster  Numanus.  The 
archer  Apollo  envieth  thee  not  this  glory.  But 
tempt  the  battle  no  more."  So  saying  he  van- 
ished out  of  their  sight.  But  the  chiefs  knew 
him  who  he  was,  yea,  and  heard  the  rattle  of  his 
quiver  as  he  departed.  And  they  suffered  not 
liilus  to  draw  his  bow  again.  But  all  the  more 
the  battle  raged  along  the  walls. 

Now  there  were  two  youths,  sons  of  Alcanor 
of  Mount  Ida,  tall  as  pine-trees;  and  their  names 
were  Pandarus  and  Bitias.  These  having  charge 
of  the  gate  opened  it,  and  standing  on  the  right 
hand  and  on  the  left,  even  as  towers,  bade  the 
enemy  enter.  And  many  of  these,  seeing  the 
open  gate,  rushed  forward,  but  fell  slain  upon 
the  threshold.  And  now  the  men  of  Troy  took 
heart,  and  pressed  on  beyond  the  walls. 

But  when  Turnus  heard  tidings  of  these  things 
he  made  haste  to  the  gate.  And  first  he  slew 
Antiphates,  who  was  a  son  of  Sarpedon,  and 
others  also,  and  Bitias  himself  with  them.  Not 
with  a  javelin  did  he  slay  him  (no  javelin  had 
done  such  deed),  but  with  a  great  spear  of  Sa- 
guntum,  having  a  point  of  a  cubit's  length. 
Through  two  bulls'  hides  it  passed  and  two  folds 
of  his  coat  of  mail.  With  a  great  crash  he  fell, 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  CAMP.      165 

and  his  shield  upon  him,  even  as  falls  a  great  pile 
which  men  set  up  in  the  bay  of  Baia?.  So  Bitias 
fell ;  and  Pandarus,  his  brother,  seeing  that  things 
fared  ill  with  the  men  of  Troy,  shut-to  the  gate, 
thrusting  it  into  its  place  with  his  broad  shoul- 
ders. Many  of  his  companions  he  left  without 
among  their  enemies,  and  many  he  shut  in.  But 
being  blind  with  haste  and  fear,  he  saw  not  that 
he  shut  in  among  them  Prince  Turnus  himself. 
But  Turnus  raged  for  blood,  as  a  tiger  rageth 
among  herds  of  cattle,  and  the  men  of  Troy  fled 
before  him.  But  Pandarus  feared  not  to  meet 
him,  hoping  also  that  he  should  have  vengeance 
for  his  brother.  And  he  cried,  "  This  is  not  thy 
city  of  Ardea,  but  the  camp  of  thy  enemies. 
Hence  thou  goest  not  forth."  But  Turnus  made 
answer,  "  Begin,  if  thou  hast  any  valor  in  thy 
heart.  Thou  shalt  find  another  Achilles  here." 
Then  Pandarus  cast  a  great  spear  with  a  knotted 
staff,  whereon  the  bark  was  left;  but  Juno 
turned  it  aside,  so  that  it  fixed  itself  in  the  gate. 
And  Turnus  said,  "  My  weapon  thou  escapest  not 
thus,  nor  maketh  my  hand  such  error."  And  he 
lifted  his  s\vord,  rising  to  the  blow  and  cleft  the 
man's  head,  so  that  it  fell  divided  upon  his  shoul- 
ders. Then,  indeed,  if  only  Turnus  had  bo- 
thought  him  to  open  the  gate  that  the  Latins 
should  come  in,  there  had  come  an  end  that  day 
to  the  war  and  to  the  whole  nation  of  Troy.  But 
he  thought  not  of  it,  caring  only  to  slay  the  en- 


166  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

emy.  Many  did  he  smite,  some  on  the  back  as 
they  fled,  and  some  in  front;  among  them 
Amycus  the  hunter  and  Clytius  the  singer,  whom 
the  Muses  loved. 

But  now  the  chiefs  of  Troy,  Mnestheus  and 
Sergestus,  began  to  gather  the  people  together, 
and  to  make  head  against  Turnus.  And  Mnes- 
theus cried,  "  Whither  will  ye  flee  ?  Have  ye  any 
walls  beside?  Shall  one  man  work  such  slaughter 
in  the  city?  Have  you  no  thought,  ye  cowards, 
for  your  king  ? "  Then  the  men  of  Troy  took 
heart  again,  and  joined  themselves  in  close  array, 
so  that  Turnus  could  not  but  give  way  before 
them.  Just  so  a  lion  is  driven  back  by  a  crowd  of 
men.  Frightened  is  he,  yet  fierce  withal  and  his 
courage  suffereth  him  not  to  flee,  yet,  so  many  arc 
against  him,  he  dareth  not  to  stand.  Even  thus 
did  Turnus  give  way.  Twice  he  turned  and  put 
the  men  of  Troy  to  flight,  and  twice  they  mas- 
tered him.  For  the  helmet  on  his  head  rang  with 
the  javelins,  and  was  broken  with  stones;  and  the 
crest  was  stricken  off,  and  the  shield  was  shat- 
tered with  blows;  and  the  sweat  poured  off  from 
him,  and  scarce  could  he  breathe,  till  at  the  last, 
having  now  come  to  the  river,  he  plunged  therein, 
and  so  returned  to  his  companions. 

And  still  the  battle  grew  fiercer  and  fiercer 
about  the  walls,  and  the  ring  of  them  that  de- 
fended the  camp  grew  thinner  and  thinner.  There 
stood  Asius,  the  son  of  Imbrasus,  and  Clarus  and 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  CAMP.      167 

Themon,  brothers  of  Sarpedon  the  Lycian,  and 
Acmon,  the  brother  of  Mnestheus,  and  others  with 
them.  And  in  the  midst  stood  the  young  lulus 
with  his  comely  head  uncovered,  like  to  a  jewel 
that  is  set  in  gold  or  ivory,  or  that  is  compassed 
about  with  boxwood  or  terebinth. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  SHORE. 


IN  the  meanwhile  ^Deas  had  made  alliance 
with  Tarchon  and  the  Tuscans.  For  when  he  had 
expounded  all  things  to  Tarchon  their  chief,  tell- 
ing him  withal  whence  he  had  come,  the  people, 
believing  that  all  things  were  now  fulfilled  as  the 
Gods  would  have  themb  followed  him  willingly. 
Now,  therefore,  he  was  returning  to  the  camp, 
leading  the  way  in  his  ship,  on  the  prow  whereof 
were  two  lions,  and  above  them  the  image  of  the 
goddess  Ida.  Pallas  also  sat  beside  him,  and 
him  and  asked  him,  now  concerning  the  stars  by 
which  men  guide  their  ways  at  night  and  now  con- 
cerning the  things  which  he  had  himself  endured 
by  land  and  sea. 

After  him  came  Massicus,  in  the  Tiger,  with 
whom  were  a  thousand  men  from  Clusium  and 
Cosae;  and  Abas,  with  six  hundred  from  Popu- 
lonia;  and  from  Ilva,  rich  in  mines,  three  hun- 
dred more.  Asilas  also  the  soothsayer,  came  lead- 
ing a  thousand  men  from  Pisa  ;  and  Astyr,  the  fair- 
est of  men,  with  three  hundred  from  Caere  and 
from  the  corn-fields  of  Minio  and  from  Pyrgi. 

Also  the  Ligurians  came,  with  Cinyras,  son  of 
168 


THE  BATTLE  OX  THE  SHORE.     169 

Cycnus,  who  had  for  his  crest  swan  feathers; 
and  his  ship  was  called  the  Centaur.  And  Oenus 
came  from  Mantua  in  the  Mincius,  and  five  hun- 
dred with  him;  and  Aulestes  in  the  Triton;  and 
the  number  of  the  ships  was  thirty  in  all. 

And  now  the  night  had  fallen,  and  as  ^Eneas 
sat  at  the  helm,  for  care  suffered  him  not  to  sleep, 
lo !  there  appeared  to  him  a  troop  of  Nymphs, 
which  once  had  been  his  ships.  And  one  of  these, 
by  name  Cymodocea,  came  behind  and  caught  the 
stern  of  the  ship  with  the  right  hand,  swimming 
meanwhile  with  the  left.  Then  she  spake,  saying, 
"  Wakest  thou.,  son  of  the  goddess  ?  We  are  pines 
of  Mount  Ida,  once  thy  ships,  but  now  changed 
to  Nymphs  when  Turnus  would  have  burned  us 
with  fire.  Know  that  thy  son  is  besieged  in  the 
camp.  Arm  thyself  therefore  with  the  arms 
which  Vulcan  hath  wrought  for  thee.  To-morrow 
thou  shalt  lay  many  Latins  low  in  death.''  And 
as  she  spake  she  pushed  the  ship  with  hor  hand, 
and  it  sped  along  through  the  waters  and  the  rest 
also  with  it. 

And  when  the  day  was  come,  ^Eneas  commanded 
that  all  should  make  them  ready  for  battle.  And 
now  the  camp  was  in  sight,  as  he  stood  on  the 
stern  and  lifted  in  his  left  hand  a  flashing  shield. 
Much  did  the  men  of  Troy  rejoice  to  see  that 
sight,  and  shouted  amain.  And  Turnus  and  his 
companions  marveled,  till  they  looked  behind 
them,  and  lo!  the  sea  was  covered  with  ships,  and 
in  the  m,idst  was  JSneas.  And  it  was  as  if  a 


170  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

flame  poured  forth  from  his  helmet  and  his  shield, 
bright  as  is  a  comet  when  it  shines  in  the  night- 
time red  as  blood,  or  as  the  Dog  Star  in  the  hot 
summer-tide  with  baleful  light  bringing  fevers 
to  the  race  of  men. 

Yet  did  not  Turnus  lose  heart,  but  would  oc- 
cupy the  shore,  and  hinder  from  landing  those 
that  came.  Wherefore  he  cried,  "  Xow  have  ye 
that  which  ye  wished  for.  Lo !  the  enemy  hides 
not  himself  behind  a  wall,  but  meets  us  face  to 
face.  Eemember  wife  and  child  and  home  and 
the  great  deeds  of  }'our  fathers.  Let  us  meet  them 
on  the  shore  ere  yet  their  footing  is  firm."  And 
he  thought  within  himself  who  should  watch  the 
walls,  and  who  should  meet  the  enemy  when  he 
would  gain  the  shore. 

But  in  the  meantime  ^Eneas  landed  his  men 
on  gangways  from  the  ships.  And  some  leapt  on 
shore,  having  watched  for  the  ebb  of  the  waves, 
and  some  ran  along  the  oars.  Tarchon  also,  the 
Etrurian,  having  spied  a  place  where  the  sea  broke 
not  in  waves,  commanded  his  men  that  they  should 
beach  the  ships,  which  indeed  they  did  without 
harm.  Only  the  ship  of  Tarchon  himself  was 
caught  upon  a  ridge  and  the  men  thrown  there- 
from. Yet  these  also,  after  a  while.,  got  safe  to  the 
shore. 

Then  did  ^Eneas  do  great  deeds  against  the 
enemy.  For  first  he  slew  Theron,  who  surpassed 
all  men  in  stature  smiting  through  his  coat  of 
mail;  and  Cisseus  and  Gyas,  who  wielded  clubs 


THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  SHORE.     171 

after  the  manner  of  Hercules.  Sons  were  they 
of  Melampus,  who  had  borne  Hercules  company 
in  all  his  labors.  Then  the  sons  of  Phorcus  came 
against  him,  seven  in  number;  and  they  cast  at 
him  seven  spears,  whereof  some  rebounded  from 
his  shield  and  some  grazed  his  body,  but  harmed 
him  not.  Then  cried  ^Eneas  to  Achates,  "  Give 
me  spears  enough.  Spears  which  have  slain  the 
Greeks  on  the  fields  of  Troy  shall  not  be  cast  in 
vain  against  these  Latins."  Then  of  the  seven  he 
slew  Mason  and  Alcanor,  for  the  spear  pierced 
the  breast-plate  and  heart  of  Mason,  and  when 
Alcanor  would  have  held  him  up,  passed  through 
his  arm  and  yet  kept  on  its  way.  And  many  others 
fell  on  this  side  and  on  that,  for  they  fought  with 
equal  fortune.  On  the  very  threshold  of  Italy 
they  fought,  and  neither  would  the  Italians  give 
place  nor  yet  the  men  of  Troy,  for  foot  was  planted 
close  to  foot,  and  man  stood  fast  by  man. 

In  another  part  of  the  battle  Pallas  fought 
with  his  Arcadians.  And  when  he  saw  that  they 
fled,  not  being  wont  to  fight  on  foot  (for  by  reason 
of  the  ground  they  had  sent  away  their  horses), 
he  cried,  "  Now,  by  the  name  of  your  King  Evan- 
dcr,  and  by  my  hope  that  I  may  win  praise  like 
unto  his,  I  beseech  you  that  ye  trust  not  to  your 
feet.  Ye  must  make  your  way  through  the  enemy 
with  your  swords.  Where  the  crowd  is  the  thick- 
est follow  me.  Nor  have  ye  now  gods  against  you. 
These  are  but  mortal  mon  that  ye  see."  And  he 
rushed  into  the  mid  si  of  the  enemy.  First  he 


172  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

smote  Lagus  with  his  spear,  even  as  he  was  lift- 
ing a  great  stone  from  the  earth.  In  the  back  he 
smote  him,  and,  having  smitten  him,  strove  todraw 
forth  his  spear,  and  while  he  strove,  Hisbo  would 
have  slain  him;  but  Pallas  was  aware  of  his  com- 
ing, and  pierced  him  in  the  breast  with  his  sword. 
Next  he  slew  the  twin  brothers,  Larides  and 
Thymber.  Very  like  they  were,  and  it  pleased 
father  and  mother  that  they  knew  not  the  one  from 
the  other;  but  Pallas  made  a  cruel  difference  be- 
tween them,  for  from  Thymber  he  struck  off  the 
head  and  from  Larides  the  right  hand.  And  after 
this  he  slew  Rhcetus,  as  he  fled  past  him  in  his 
chariot.  And  now,  even  as  a  shepherd  sets  fire 
to  a  wood,  and  the  flames  are  borne  along  by  the 
wind,  so  Pallas,  and  his  Arcadians  following, 
raged  through  the  battle.  And  when  Hala3sus. 
the  companion  of  Agamemnon,  would  have  stayed 
them,  Pallas,  first  praying  to  Father  Tiber,  smote 
him  through  the  breast  with  a  spear,  that  he  died. 
Then  came  to  the  help  of  the  Latins  Lausus,  the 
son  of  King  Mezentius,  and  slew  Abas  of  Popu- 
lonia,  and  others  also.  Then  the  battle  was  equal 
for  a  space,  for  Pallas  supported  it  on  the  one 
side  and  Lausus  on  the  other.  Fair  were  they 
both  to  behold  and  of  equal  age,  and  for  both  it 
was  ordained  that  they  should  not  return  to  their 
native  country.  Yet  they  met  not  in  battle,  see- 
ing that  the  doom  of  each  was  that  he  should  fall 
by  a  greater  hand. 

And  now  the  nymph  Juturna,  who  was  sister 


THE  BATTLE  OX  THE  SHORE.     173 

to  Turnus,  bade  her  brother  haste  to  the  help 
of  Lausus.  And  when  he  was  come,  he  cried 
to  the  Latins,  "  Give  place :  I  only  will  deal  with 
Pallas.  I  only  would  that  his  father  were  here 
to  see."  Much  did  Pallas  marvel  to  behold  him 
and  to  see  the  men  give  place.  But,  being  no 
whit  afraid,  he  went  forth  into  the  space  between 
the  hosts,  and  the  blood  of  the  Arcadians  ran  cold 
when  they  saw  him  go.  Then  Turnus  leapt  from 
his  chariot,  for  he  would  meet  him  on  foot.  And 
first  Pallas  prayed,  saying,  "  0  Hercules !  if  thou 
wast  indeed  my  father's  guest,  help  me  to-day ! " 
And  Hercules  heard  him  where  he  sat  in  heaven, 
and  wept  because  he  could  avail  nothing.  Then 
said  Father  Jupiter,  "  My  son,  the  days  of  men 
are  numbered;  yet  may  they  live  forever  by 
noble  deeds.  This  at  least  can  valor  do.  Did  not 
many  sons  of  the  gods  fall  at  Troy?  yea,  and 
my  own  Sarpedon.  And  for  Turnus,  toe>,  the  day 
of  doom  is  at  hand."  And  he  turned  his  eyes 
from  the  battle.  Then  Pallas  cast  his  spear  with 
all  his  might.  Through  the  shield  of  Turnus  it 
passed,  and  through  the  corslet,  yea,  and  grazed 
the  top  of  his  shoulder.  Then  Turnus  balanced 
his  spear  awhile,  and  said,  "  This,  methinks,  shall 
better  make  its  way,"  and  he  cast  it.  Through 
the  shield,  through  the  stout  bull's  hide,  and 
through  the  folds  of  bronze  it  passed,  and 
through  the  corslet,  and  pierced  the  breast  of  Pal- 
las from  front  to  back.  And  Pallas  tore  from  the 
wound  the  reeking  steel,  and  the  blood  gushed 


IT-t  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

out,  and  the  life  therewith.  Then  Turnus  stood 
above  the  corpse,  and  said,  "  Men  of  Arcadia,  tell 
these  my  words  to  Evander :  *  Pallas  I  send  him 
back,  even  as  he  deserved  that  I  should  send  him. 
I  grudge  him  not  due  honors  of  burial.  Yet  of  a 
truth  the  friendship  of  ^Eneas  hath  cost  him 
dear/  "  Then  he  put  his  foot  upon  the  body  and 
dragged  therefrom  the  belt.  Great  and  heavy  it 
was,  and  Clonius  had  wrought  thereon  in  gold  the 
deed  of  the  fifty  daughters  of  Danaiis,  how  they 
slew  their  husbands  in  one  night.  But  even  then 
the  time  was  very  near  when  Turnus  would  wish 
that  he  had  left  that  spoil  untouched.  And  after- 
wards, with  much  groaning  and  weeping,  the  com- 
panions of  Pallas  laid  him  upon  a  shield  and  bare 
him  back. 

And  now  tidings  came  to  ^iEneas  that  it  fared 
ill  with  his  men,  and  that  Pallas  was  slain. 
Across  the  field  he  sped,  and  all  his  heart  was  full 
of  wrath  against  Turnus  and  pity  for  the  old  man 
Evander;  and  first  he  took  alive  eight  youths, 
whom  he  should  slay  upon  the  tomb.  Then  he  cast 
his  spear  at  Lagus;  but  Lagus  avoided  it  by 
craft,  and  rushed  forward,  and  caught  him  by  the 
knees,  beseeching  him  by  the  spirit  of  his  father 
and  the  hopes  of  lulus  that  he  would  spare  him, 
and  take  a  ransom  for  his  life.  But  ^Eneas  made 
answer,  "  Talk  not  of  sparing  nor  of  ransom ;  for 
to  all  courtesy  of  war  there  is  an  end  now  that 
Turnus  hath  slain  Pallas."  And  he  caught  the 
man's  helmet  with  his  left  hand,  and.  bending 


THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  SHORE.      175 

back  his  neck,  thrust  in  the  sword  up  to  the  hilt. 
And  many  other  valiant  chiefs  he  slew,  as  Haem- 
onides,  priest  of  Phcebus  and  Diana,  and  Tar- 
quitus,  son  of  Faunus,  and  dark  Gamers,  son  of 
Volscens.  And  now  there  met  him  two  brethren 
on  one  chariot,  Lucagus  and  Liger.  And  Liger, 
who  indeed  drave  the  horses,  cried  aloud,  "  These 
are  not  the  horses  of  Diomed,  nor  this  the  char- 
iot of  Achilles,  from  which  thou  mayest  escape. 
Lo !  the  end  of  thy  battles  and  thy  life  is  come." 
But  ^Eneas  spake  not,  but  cast  his  spear,  and  even 
as  Lucagus  made  himself  ready  for  battle  it  sped 
through  his  shield  and  pierced  his  thigh.  Then  he 
fell  dying  on  the  plain.  And  ^Eneas  cried,  mock- 
ing him,  "  Thy  horses  are  not  slow  to  flee,  nor 
frightened  by  a  shadow.  Of  thy  own  will  thou 
leavest  thy  chariot."  And  he  caught  the  horses 
by  the  head.  Then  Liger  stretched  out  his  hands 
to  him  in  supplication,  saying,  "  I  beseech  thee, 
by  thy  parents,  have  pity  upon  me."  But  ^Eneas 
made  answer,  "  Nay,  but  thou  spakest  not  thus 
before.  Die!  and  desert  not  thy  brother."  And 
he  thrust  the  sword  into  his  breast.  Thus  did 
vEneas  deal  death  through  the  host,  even  as  he 
had  been  the  giant  Typhoeus  with  the  hundred 
hands.  And  when  liilus  and  the  men  of  Troy 
beheld  him  they  brake  forth  from  the  camp. 

And  now  Juno  bethought  her  how  she  might 
save  Turnus,  whom  she  loved.  So  she  caused  that 
there  should  pass  before  his  eyes  an  image  as  of 
s,  which  seemed  to  defy  him  to  battle.  And 


176  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

when  Turnus  would  have  fought,  lo!  the  false 
yEneas  fled,  and  Turnus  followed  him.  Now 
there  chanced  to  be  lying  moored  to  a  great  rock 
a  certain  ship,  on  which  King  Asinius  had  come 
from  Clusium.  Into  this  the  false  ^Eneas  fled, 
and  Turnus  followed  hard  upon  him,  hut  found 
not  the  man.  And  when  he  looked,  Juno  had 
burst  the  moorings  of  the  ship,  and  the  sea  was 
about  him  on  every  side.  Then  he  cried,  "  What 
have  I  done,  great  Jupiter,  that  I  should  suffer 
such  shame?  What  think  the  Latins  of  my 
flight?  Drown  me,  ye  winds  and  waves,  or  drive 
me  where  no  man  may  see  me  more."  Thrice  he 
would  have  cast  himself  into  the  sea ;  thrice  would 
he  have  slain  himself  with  the  sword;  but  Juno 
forbade,  and  brought  him  safe  to  the  city  of 
Daunus,  his  father. 

In  the  meanwhile  King  Mezentius  joined  the 
battle.  Nor  could  the  men  of  Troy,  nor  yet  the 
Tuscans,,  stay  him.  Many  valiant  men  he  slew, 
as  Mimas,  whom  his  mother  Theano  bare  the  same 
night  that  Hecuba  bare  Paris  to  King  Priam ;  and 
Actor,  a  Greek,  who  had  left  his  promised  wife, 
and  carried  her  purple  favor  in  his  helmet;  and 
tall  Orodes.  Orodes,  indeed,  was  flying,  but  the 
king  deigned  not  to  slay  him  in  his  flight,  but 
met  him  face  to  face  and  smote  him.  Also  when 
Orodes  cried,  "  Whoever  thou  art,  thou  gocst  not 
long  unpunished:  a  like  doom  awaits  thee;  and 
in  this  land  shall  thou  find  thy  grave,"  Mezentius 


THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  SHORE.     177 

laughed,  and  made  answer,  "  Die  thou,  but  let 
the  king  of  Gods  and  men  see  to  me." 

But  after  awhile  ^Eneas  spied  Mezentius  as  he 
fought,  and  made  haste  to  meet  him.  Nor  did 
the  king  give  place,  but  cried,  "  Now  may  this 
right  hand  and  the  spear  which  I  wield  be  my  gods, 
and  help."  And  he  cast  his  spear.  It  smote  the 
shield  of  JEneas,  but  pierced  it  not.  Yet  did  it 
not  fly  in  vain,  for  glancing  off  it  smote  Antores 
in  the  side — Antores  who  once  had  been  comrade  to 
Hercules.,  and  afterwards  followed  Evander.  Now 
he  fell,  and  in  his  death  remembered  the  city 
which  he  loved,  even  Argos.  Then  in  his  turn 
^Eneas  cast  his  spear.  Through  the  bull's-hide 
shield  it  passed,  wounding  the  king  in  the  groin, 
but  not  to  death.  And  ^Eneas  was  right  glad  to 
see  the  blood  flow  forth,  and  drew  his  sword  and 
pressed  on;  and  Mezentius,  much  cumbered  with 
the  spear  and  the  wound,  gave  place.  But  when 
Lausus,  his  son,  saw  this,  he  groaned  aloud  and 
leapt  forward  and  took  the  blow  upon  his  sword ; 
and  his  companions  followed  him  with  a  shout 
and  cast  their  spears  at  ^Eneas,  staying  him  till 
Mezentius  had  gotten  himself  safe  away.  And 
./Eneas  stood  awhile  under  the  shower  of  spears, 
even  as  a  traveler  stands  hiding  himself  from  a 
storm.  Then  he  cried  to  Lausus,  "  What  seekest 
thou,  madman?  Why  venturest  thou  that  which 
thy  strength  may  not  endure?"  But  Lausus 
heeded  him  not  at  all,  but  still  pressed  on.  Then 
the  heart  of  ^Eneas  was  filled  with  wrath,  and  the 
12 


178  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

day  was  come  for  Lausus  that  he  should  die.  For 
the  king  smote  him  with  his  sword:  through 
shield  it  passed  and  tunic  woven  with  gold,  and  was 
hidden  to  the  hilt  in  his  body.  And  ^Eneas  pitied 
him  as  he  lay  dead,  bethinking  him  how  he,  too, 
would  fain  have  died  for  his  father,  and  spake, 
saying,  "  What  shall  ^neas  give  thee,  unhappy 
boy,  for  this  thy  nobleness?  Keep  thy  arms,  in 
which  thou  hadst  such  delight,  and  let  thy  father 
care  as  he  will  for  thy  body;  and  take  this  com- 
fort in  thy  death,  that  thou  fallest  by  the  hand 
of  the  great  ^neas."  Then  he  lifted  him  from  the 
earth,  and  bade  his  companions  carry  him  away. 

In  the  meantime  his  father  tended  his  wounds, 
leaning  on  the  trunk  of  a  tree  by  the  Tiber  bank. 
His  helmet  hung  from  a  branch,  and  his  anus  lay 
upon  the  ground,  while  his  followers  stood  around. 
And  ever  he  asked  tidings  of  Lausus,  and  sent 
those  who  should  bid  him  return.  But  when 
they  brought  back  his  body  on  a  shield,  his  father 
knew  it  from  afar,  and  threw  dust  upon  his  white 
hair,  and  fell  upon  the  body,  crying,  "  Had  I  such 
desire  to  live,  my  son,  that  I  suffered  thee  to  meet 
in  my  stead  the  sword  of  the  enemy  ?  Am  I  saved 
by  these  wounds?  Do  I  live  by  thy  death?  /Vnd 
indeed,  my  son,  I  did  dishonor  to  thee  by  my  mis- 
deeds. Would  that  I  had  given  my  guilty  life  for 
thine!  But  indeed  I  die:  nevertheless  not  yet, 
for  I  have  first  somewhat  that  I  must  do." 

Then  he  raised  himself  on  his  thigh,  and  com- 
manded that  they  should  bring  his  horse.  His 


THE  BATTLE  ON  THE  SHORE.     179 

pride  it  was  and  comfort,  and  had  borne  him  con- 
queror from  many  fights.  Very  sad  was  the  beast, 
and  he  spake  to  it  saying,  "  0  Rhcebus,  thou  and  I 
have  lived  long  enough,  if  indeed  aught  on  earth 
be  long.  To-day  thou  shalt  bring  back  the  head 
and  the  arms  of  .^Eneas,  and  so  avenge  my  Lausus; 
or  thou  shalt  die  with  me.  For  a  Trojan  master 
thou  wilt  not,  I  know,  endure." 

Then  he  mounted  the  horse  and  took  spears  in 
both  his  hands,  and  so  hasted  to  meet  ^Eneas. 
Thrice  he  called  him  by  name,  and  ^Eneas  re- 
joiced to  hear  his  voice,  and  cried,  "  Now  may 
Jupiter  and  Apollo  grant  that  this  be  true. 
Begin  the  fight."  And  Mezentius  made  answer: 
"  Seek  not  to  make  afraid.  Thou  canst  do  me  no 
harm  now  that  thou  hast  slain  my  son.  I  am 
come  to  die,  but  take  thou  first  this  gift ; "  and  he 
cast  his  spear,  and  then  another,  and  another,  as 
he  rode  in  a  great  circle  about  the  enemy.  But 
they  brake  not  the  boss  of  gold.  And  ^Eneas 
stood  firm,  bearing  the  forest  of  spears  in  his 
shield.  But  at  last,  issuing  forth  in  anger  from 
behind  his  shield,  he  cast  his  spear  and  smote  the 
•war-horse  Rhcebus  between  his  temples.  Then 
the  horse  reared  himself  and  lashed  the  air  with 
his  feet,  and  fell  with  his  rider  beneath  him.  And 
the  men  of  Troy  and  the  Latins  sent  up  a  great 
shout.  Then  ^Eneas  hasted  and  drew  his  sword, 
and  stood  above  him,  crying,  "  Where  is  the  fierce 
Mezentius  now  ?  "  And  the  king  said,  when  he 
breathed  again,  "  Why  threatenest  thou  me  with 


180  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

death?  Slay  me;  thou  wrongest  me  not.  I  made 
no  covenant  with  thee  for  life,  nor  did  my  Lausus 
when  he  died  for  me.  Yet  grant  me  this  one 
thing.  Thou  knowest  how  my  people  hateth  me. 
Keep  my  body,  I  pray  thee,  from  them,  that  they 
do  it  no  wrong.  And  let  my  son  be  buried  with 
me  in  my  grave."  And  he  gave  his  throat  to  the 
sword  and  feared  not. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE    COUNCIL. 

So  the  battle  had  an  end.  And  the  next  day, 
early  in  the  morning,  ^Eneas  paid  his  vows.  For 
he  took  an  oak-tree,  and  lopped  the  branches 
round  about,  and  set  it  on  a  mound.  And  thereon 
he  hung,  for  a  trophy  to  Mars,  the  arms  of  King 
Mezentius,  the  crest  dripping  with  blood,  and  the 
headless  spears,  and  the  corslet  pierced  in  twelve 
places.  Also  he  fastened  on  the  left  hand  the 
shield,  and  hung  about  the  neck  the  ivory-hilted 
sword.  And  next,  the  chiefs  being  gathered  about 
him,  he  spake,  saying,  "  We  have  wrought  a  great 
deed.  Here  ye  see  all  that  remaineth  of  Mezen- 
tius. Xow,  therefore,  let  us  make  ready  to  carry 
the  war  against  the  city  of  Latinus.  This,  there- 
fore, will  we  do  with  the  first  light  to-morrow. 
And  now  let  us  bury  the  dead,  doing  such  honor 
to  them  as  we  may,  for  indeed  they  have  purchased 
a  country  for  us  with  their  own  blood.  But  first 
will  1  send  back  Pallas  to  the  city  of  Evander." 

Then  he  went  to  the  tent  where  the  dead  body 
was  laid,  and  old  Accetes  kept  watch  there — 
Acretes,  who  had  been  armor-bearer  to  Evander, 
and  now  had  followed  his  son,  but  with  evil  for- 

181 


182  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

tune ;  and  the  women  of  Troy,  with  their  hair  un- 
bound, mourned  about  him.  But  when  they  saw 
^Eneas  they  beat  their  breasts,  and  sent  up  a  great 
cry  even  to  heaven.  And  when  the  king  saw  the 
pillowed  head  and  the  great  wound  in  the  breast 
he  wept,  and  said,  "  Ah !  why  did  Fortune  grudge 
me  this,  that  thou  shouldst  see  my  kingdom,  and 
go  back  in  triumph  to  thy  father's  home?  This 
is  not  what  I  promised  to  Evander  when  he  gave 
thee  to  my  charge,  and  warned  me  that  the  men 
of  Italy  were  valiant  and  fierce.  And  now  haply, 
old  man,  thou  makest  offerings  and  prayers  for 
him  who  oweth  not  service  any  more  to  the  Gods 
of  heaven.  Yet,  at  least,  thou  wilt  see  that  he 
beareth  an  honorable  wound.  But  what  a  son 
thou  losest,  0  Italy !  and  what  a  friend,  thou, 
lulus ! " 

Then  he  chose  a  thousand  men  who  should  go 
with  the  dead  and  share  the  father's  grief.  After 
this  they  made  a  bier  of  arbutus  boughs  and  oak, 
and  put  also  over  it  a  canopy  of  branches,  and 
laid  the  dead  thereon,  like  unto  a  flower  of  violet 
or  hyacinth  which  a  girl  hath  plucked,,  which  still 
hath  beauty  and  color,  but  the  earth  nonrisheth  it 
no  more.  And  ^Eneas  took  two  robes  of  purple, 
which  Dido  had  woven  with  thread  of  gold,  and 
with  one  he  wrapped  the  body  and  with  the  other 
the  head.  And  behind  were  carried  the  arms 
which  Pallas  had  won  in  fight;  and  they  led  the 
old  man  Acretes,  smiting  on  his  breast  and  tear- 
ing his  cheeks,  and  throwing  himself  upon  the 


THE  COUNCIL.  183 

ground;  and  the  war-horse  zEthon  walked  beside 
with  the  great  tears  rolling  down  his  cheeks.  And 
also  they  bare  behind  him  his  helmet  and  shield, 
for  all  else  Turnus  had  taken;  and  then  followed 
the  whole  company,  the  men  of  Troy,  the  Arca- 
dians, and  the  Tuscans,  with  arms  reversed.  And 
^Eneas  said,  "  The  same  cares  and  sorrows  of  war 
call  me  elsewhere.  Farewell,  my  Pallas,  for- 
ever !  "  And  he  departed  to  the  camp. 

And  now  there  came  ambassadors  from  the  city, 
having  olive-branches  about  their  heads,  praying 
for  a  truce,  that  they  might  bury  their  dead. 
Then  J^neas  made  answer,  "  Ye  ask  peace  for  the 
dead ;  fain  would  I  give  it  to  the  living.  I  had  not 
come  to  this  land  but  for  the  bidding  of  the  Fates. 
And  if  your  king  changeth  from  me  and  my 
friendship  to  Turnus,  I  am  blameless.  Yet  me- 
thinks  Turnus  should  rather  have  taken  this  dan- 
ger upon  himself.  And  even  now,  if  he  be  will- 
ing to  fight  with  me,  man  to  man,  so  be  it.  But 
now  bury  ye  your  dead." 

Then  they  made  truce  for  twelve  days.  And 
the  men  of  Troy  and  the  Latins  labored  together, 
hewing  wood  upon  the  hills;,  pine  and  cedar  and 
mountain  ash.  And  the  men  of  Troy  built  great 
piles  upon  the  shore  and  burned  the  dead  bodies 
of  their  companions  thereon,  and  their  arms  with 
them.  And  the  Latins  did  likewise.  Also  they 
that  had  been  chosen  to  do  this  thing  carried  the 
body  of  Pallas  to  his  city.  And  King  Evander  and 
the  Arcadians  made  a  great  mourning  for  him. 


184  STORIES  FROM   VIRGIL. 

But  when  they  had  made  an  end  of  burning 
the  dead  there  arose  a  great  tumult  in  the  city,  for 
many  had  lost  husband,,  or  brother,  or  son. 
Wherefore  they  cried  out  that  it  was  an  evil  war, 
and  they  cursed  the  marriage  of  Turnus,  and 
would  have  him  fight  with  ^Eneas,  man  to  man, 
that  there  might  be  an  end  of  these  troubles.  And 
lo!  in  the  midst  of  the  tumult  there  came  back 
the  ambassadors  that  had  been  sent  to  Diomed, 
saying  that  their  prayers  and  gifts  had  availed 
nothing.  Then  King  Latinus  called  a  council  of 
the  chiefs,  and  sat  him  down  upon  his  throne,  and 
bade  the  men  say  on.  Then  Yenulus,  who  was 
the  chief est  among  them,  spake,  saying,  "  We  went 
to  Arpi,  to  the  city  of  King  Diomed.  And  the 
man  received  us,  and  asked  us  wherefore  we  had 
come,  and  when  we  had  told  him,  he  spake,  say- 
ing, "  Men  of  Italy,  why  will  ye  thus  tempt  your 
fate?  Know  ye  not  that  we,  as  many  of  us  as 
lifted  hand  against  the  men  of  Troy,  have  suf- 
fered grievous  things?  For  the  Lesser  Ajax  per- 
ished on  the  rocks  of  Eubcea;  and  Menelaiis  was 
driven  even  to  the  island  of  Proteus,  which  is  hard 
by  the  land  of  Egypt;  and  Ulysses  scarcely  es- 
caped from  the  Cyclops;  and  as  for  King  Aga- 
memnon, an  adulterer  slew  him  in  his  palace. 
And  us  the  Gods  suffered  not  to  see  wife  or  coun- 
try again.  But  as  for  this  which  ye  ask  of  me, 
I  fight  not  against  men  of  Troy  any  more.  These 
gifts  which  ye  bring  to  me,  give  rather  to  .^Eneas. 
We  have  fought  together,  and  I  know  how  might- 


THE   COUNCIL.  185 

ily  he  rises  to  the  stroke  of  his  sword  and  casts 
his  spear.  I  tell  you  this:  if  there  had  been  in 
Troy  two  others  such  as  he,  the  war  had  come  to 
the  gates  of  Argos,  and  Greece  had  suffered  even 
what  she  wrought.  'Twas  he  and  Hector  who 
for  ten  years  bore  up  against  our  arms;  both  val- 
iant men  and  strong,  and  this  man  the  dearer  to 
the  Gods.  Make  peace  with  him,  if  ye  may;  but 
beware  that  ye  meet  him  not  in  war." 

And  when  they  had  made  an  end  of  speaking 
there  was  a  murmur  in  the  council,  some  saying 
one  thing,  and  some  another.  Then  King  Latinus 
said  from  his  throne,  "  This  is  an  ill  time  for 
counsel  when  the  enemy  is  about  our  walls.  Yet 
hearken  to  my  words.  Ye  do  ill  to  wage  this  war : 
for  the  men  of  Troy  are  dear  to  the  Gods,  nor 
may  any  sword  prevail  against  them.  Ye  have 
heard  what  saith  King  Diomed;  ye  see  also  how 
low  our  fortunes  be  brought.  My  sentence  there- 
fore is  this :  I  have  a  domain  near  to  the  Tiber, 
stretching  far  to  the  west,  a  land  of  corn-fields 
and  pasture.  This,  and  the  pine  forests  also  on 
the  hills,  will  I  give  to  the  men  of  Troy,  and  I  will 
divide  also  my  kingdom.  But  if  they  would  rather 
seek  some  other  land,  let  us  build  them  twelve 
ships,  or  more,  if  they  be  able  to  fill  them,  and 
let  them  depart  in  peace.  Now  therefore  let  us 
send  ambassadors,  even  a  hundred  men,  and  let 
them  carry  gifts,  talents  of  gold,  and  ivory,  and 
also  a  throne  and  a  robe,  which  are  the  emblems 
of  kingship." 


186  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

Then  spake  Drances.  (Xow  Drances  had  great 
jealousy  of  Turnus.  Bountiful  was  he,  and  elo- 
quent, and  skilful  in  counsel  and  debate,  but 
feeble  to  fight.)  "This  matter  about  which  thou 
askest  us,  0  King,  is  manifest,  and  needeth  not 
speech;  for  all  men  know  what  shall  best  profit 
the  people,  yet  fear  to  say  it.  'Tis  this  man  that 
hindereth  us  from  speech ;  this  man  for  whose  evil 
pride — aye,  I  will  say  it  though  he  threaten  me 
with  death — so  many  valiant  chiefs  have  fallen 
while  he  makes  a  vain  show  of  his  valor.  And 
now,  0  King,  I  would  bid  thee  add  one  more  to 
thy  gifts.  Give  thy  daughter  to  this  great  son-in- 
law,  and  make  peace  sure  forever.  .  Yea,  Turnus, 
3rield  thou  this  to  thy  country.  Lo !  we  all  ask  it 
of  thee,  even  I,  whom  thou  boldest  to  be  thine  en- 
emy. But  if  thou  wilt  not,  counting  a  royal  wife 
to  be  more  than  thy  country,  call  not  on  us  to  die 
for  thee,  but  meet  thy  rival  face  to  face." 

Then  in  great  wrath  Turnus  made  answer, 
"  Thou  hast  always  many  words  at  command,  0 
Drances,  and,  when  the  senators  are  called,  art 
ever  the  first  to  come.  But  where  is  thy  valor? 
Where  arc  the  trophies  which  thy  right  hand  hath 
set  up  ?  Wilt  thou  make  trial  of  it  now  ?  Lo ! 
the  enemy  is  at  hand.  Shall  we  go?  Dost  thou 
linger?  Is  all  thy  valor  in  thy  boasting  tongue 
and  coward  feet?  And  thou  doubtest,  forsooth, 
of  my  courage.  What?  hast  thou  not  heard  of 
Pallas  slain,  and  Bitias  and  Pandarus,,  and  all 
whom  I  laid  low  when  they  shut  me  within  thoir 


THE  COUNCIL.  187 

Avails?  And  now  I  would  speak  of  thee  and  thy 
counsel,  my  father.  If  thou  thinkest  that  one  de- 
feat is  enough,  and  that  fortune  may  not  change, 
be  it  so:  let  us  pray  for  peace.  Happy  then  he 
who  hath  died  before  he  saw  such  foul  disgrace! 
But  if  we  have  yet  strength  remaining,  and  na- 
tions and  cities  that  will  yet  help  us;  if  these  men 
of  Troy  have  won  their  victory  dear,  why  faint  we 
at  the  threshold,  and  tremble  before  the  trumpet 
sounds?  Diomed  will  not  help  us.  But  we  have 
Messapus,  and  the  augur  Tolumnius,  and  all  the 
chiefs  of  Italy,  yea  and  the  Volscian  Camilla, 
with  her  squadrons  clad  in  bronze.  And  if  they 
would  have  me  fight  man  to  man,  I  refuse  not  in 
such  a  cause.  Let  him  be  mighty  as  Achilles,  and 
don  the  arms  which  Vulcan  hath  made:  I  refuse 
not  the  battle,  for  my  life  is  for  you  and  your 
king." 

But  while  they  disputed  there  came  a  messen- 
ger unto  the  palace  bringing  tidings  of  fear.  For 
the  men  of  Troy,  he  said,  were  marching  in 
battle  line  from  their  camp.  Then  there  arose  a 
great  uproar,  some  crying  aloud  for  arms,  and 
some  weeping;  loud  was  it  as  the  clamor  of  birds 
that  settle  in  some  deep  wood,  or  of  swans  by  the 
mouth  of  Po.  And  Turnus  cried,  "  Call  your 
councils,  my  friends,  speak  of  peace  as  you  sit. 
But  the  enemy  is  at  the  gate."  And  he  made  haste 
and  rushed  forth  from  the  senate-house. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  CITY. 

THEN  Turnus  commanded  that  of  the  chiefs 
some  should  set  the  battle  in  array,  and  some 
should  fortify  the  gates,  and  some  should  follow 
after  himself.  And  men  dug  trenches  before  the 
gates,  and  gathered  store  of  stones  and  stakes; 
and  the  women  and  children  stood  upon  the  walls. 
But  the  queen  and  the  chief est  of  the  matrons 
went  to  the  temple  of  Pallas,  and  with  them  was 
the  virgin  Lavinia,  from  whom  all  these  sorrows 
sprang,  casting  down  her  beautiful  eyes  to  the 
ground.  And  they  offered  incense  and  prayer  to 
the  goddess,  that  she  would  break  the  Phrygian 
robber's  spear,  and  lay  him  low  before  the  walls 
of  the  city.  Then  Turnus  armed  himself  for  the 
battle,  and  ran  down  from  the  citadel,  and  lo ! 
at  the  gate  there  met  him  Camilla,  with  a  troop 
of  virgins  riding  on  horses.  And  when  they  had 
lighted  down  therefrom,  the  Queen  spake,  saying, 
"  I  promise  thee,  Turnus,  to  meet  the  horsemen  of 
Troy  and  of  the  Tuscans.  Do  thou  abide  here  on 
foot  and  guard  the  walls."  And  Turnus,  stead- 
fastly regarding  her,  made  answer,  "  What  thanks 
shall  I  give  thee  for  such  service?  But  now 
188 


THE   BATTLE   AT   THE   CITY.  189 

hearken  to  me.  There  lieth  a  valley  whereby 
./Eneas  purposeth  to  come  against  this  city :  in  the 
mouth  thereof  will  I  lay  an  ambush;  do  thou, 
therefore,  meet  the  Tuscan  horsemen  in  battle 
having  with  thee  Messapus  and  the  horsemen  of 
Tibur."  And  when  he  had  said  this  he  departed 
and  laid  the  ambush  against  ./Eneas. 

In  the  mean  time  Diana,  where  she  sat  in 
heaven,  spake  to  Opis,  who  was  one  of  the  nymphs 
that  waited  on  her :  "  Camilla  goeth  forth  to  bat- 
tle, who  is  dearer  to  me  than  all  virgins  beside, 
and  hath  been  so  even  from  a  child.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  .King  Metabus.  Now  Metabus,  being 
banished  from  his  city,  even  Privernum,  by  rea- 
son of  his  violence,  fled,  taking  with  him  his 
daughter.  Her  he  carried  in  his  bosom,  and  the 
Volscians  pressed  hard  upon  him  as  he  fled.  And 
he  came  to  the  river  Amasenus,  and  it  chanced 
that  the  river  was  swollen  with  abundance  of  rain, 
and  overflowed  his  banks.  And  the  king,  when 
he  would  have  crossed  it  by  swimming,  feared  for 
the  child.  Therefore  he  took  the  great  spear 
which  he  carried  in  his  hand,  and  bound  the  girl 
thereto  with  strips  of  bark,  and  balanced  it  in  his 
hands,  saying,  '  I  vow  this  child  to  thee,  daughter 
of  Latona,  to  be  thy  servant  forever.'  And  he 
cast  the  spear  with  all  his  might,  so  that  it  fell  on 
the  other  side  of  the  river.  Then  did  he  throw 
himself  into  the  stream,  and  so  escaped  from  the 
land  of  his  enemies.  Thereafter  he  dwelt  not  in 
house  or  city,  but  lived  on  the  hills  with  the  shep- 


190  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

herds.  And  the  child  he  nourished  with  mare's 
milk,  and  the  like.  And  when  she  could  first  put 
her  feet  upon  the  ground,  he  put  a  javelin  in  her 
hand,  and  gave  her  a  bow  also  and  arrows.  Xo 
gold  had  she  on  her  hair,  nor  wore  she  long  gar- 
ments such  as  women  use,  but  was  adorned  with  a 
tiger-skin.  Also  from  a  child  she  would  cast  the 
javelin  from  her  hand,  and  whirl  the  sling  above 
her  head,  and  strike  the  crane  or  the  wild  swan 
even  in  the  midst  of  the  clouds.  Many  Tuscan 
mothers  would  have  had  her  for  their  daughter-in 
law,  but  marriage  pleased  her  not.  I  would  she  had 
not  come  to  this  war.  Then  had  I  made  her  one 
of  my  companions.  But  seeing  that  her  doom 
is  upon  her.  I  give  thee  this  charge  concerning  her. 
Pass  thou  down  to  the  earth,  to  the  Latin  land, 
where  they  begin  even  now  this  evil  battle.  And 
take  from  thy  quiver  an  avenging  arrow,  and  who- 
soever shall  harm  the  virgin,  be  he  man  of  Troy 
or  Italian,  shall  pay  the  penalty.  But  her  will  I 
carry  back  to  her  native  country,  neither  shall  any 
man  spoil  her  of  her  arms." 

In  the  meanwhile  ^Eneas  and  his  army  were 
come  near  to  the  walls.  And  first  the  horsemen 
ran  together  against  each  other,  holding  their 
spears  forth  in  front.  In  this  battle  Tyrrhenus 
the  Tuscan  met  Aconteus,  and  drave  him  from 
his  horse  with  the  shock,  as  a  thunderbolt  is  driven 
from  the  sky  or  a  stone  from  an  engine;  and  the 
ranks  of  the  Latins  were  troubled  and  fled  and 
the  men  of  Troy  pursued  them;  but  when  they 


THE   BATTLE   AT   THE   CITY.  191 

came  near  to  the  gates  the  Latins  turned  upon 
them,  and  the  men  of  Troy  fled  in  their  turn. 
Even  as  a  wave  upon  the  shore  floweth  and  ebbeth, 
so  twice  they  fled  and  twice  they  pursued.  But 
the  third  time  they  joined  battle,  and  gave  not 
place  one  to  the  other.  Then  fell  many  men  and 
horses  dying  on  the  ground.  Orsilochus  smote 
the  horse  of  Remulus  between  the  temples,  and  the 
beast  reared  and  threw  his  rider  to  the  earth. 
Xext  Catillus  of  Tibur  slew  lollas,  and  Herminius, 
who  fought  with  breast  and  shoulders  bare,  driv- 
ing his  spear  through  him  from  side  to  side.  But 
fiercest  of  all  was  the  virgin  Camilla.  With  one 
breast  bare  she  fought;  and  now  she  would  shoot 
arrows  from  her  bow,  and  now  would  ply  the  bat- 
tle-axe. And  the  virgins  that  were  her  fellows, 
as  Larina  and  Tulla  and  Tarpeia,  followed  close 
behind  her.  Like  to  the  Amazons  they  were  when, 
having  their  shelds  shaped  as  is  the  moon,  they 
throng  around  their  Queen  Penthesilea  or  Hip- 
polyte.  Euneiis  she  slew,  a  man  of  Troy  ;  and 
Pagasus  and  Liris,  Etruscans;  and  others  besides. 
With  ever}r  arrow  she  slew  a  man.  And  the  hunter 
Ornytus  came  against  her,  having  for  helmet 
the  head  of  a  wolf  with  white  teeth,  and  in  his 
hand  a  hunting  spear.  He  was  of  greater  stature 
than  other  men,  but  she  slew  him,  and  mocked 
him,  saying,  "  Didst  thou  think,  Tuscan,  that 
thou  wert  hunting  wild  beasts  this  day?  Lo!  a 
woman's  arms  have  brought  thy  boast  to  nothing." 
Then  she  slew  Orsiloclms  and  Butes,  mighty  men 


192  STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

of  Troy.  Butes  she  smote  as  he  fled  fom  her,  but 
from  Orsilochus  she  made  as  she  would  flee ;  then, 
wheeling  round,  met  him  face  to  face,  and  cleft 
his  head  in  twain.  The  son  of  Aunus,  whose 
father  dwelt  amongst  the  Apennines,  trembled  to 
see  the  deed,  and  was  fain  to  escape  her  by  craft, 
after  the  fashion  of  his  country,  being  a  man  of 
Lignria.  Therefore  he  said,  "  What  glory  is  it  if 
thou  prevailest  by  reason  of  the  swiftness  of  thy 
horse?  Fight  with  me  now  on  foot,  and  let  us 
see  who  shall  gain  the  victory,"  And  when  the 
virgin  leapt  to  the  ground,  giving  her  horse  to  her 
companions,  he  turned  his  horse  to  flee.  But  the 
virgin  cried,  "  Thinkest  thou  to  escape  me  thus, 
thou  fool?  Xever  shalt  thou  see  thy  father,  the 
crafty  Aunus,  again."  And  she  made  haste  and 
outran  the  horse,  and  catching  the  reins  in  her 
hands,  stood  before  him  and  slew  him. 

Then  did  Tarchon  the  Tuscan  rebuke  his  horse- 
men, calling  each  by  his  name,  saying,  "  What 
fear,  what  baseness,  is  this,  ye  Tuscans?  Shall 
a  woman  drive  you  before  her?  Eeady  enough 
are  ye  for  the  dance,  and  the  feast,  and  the  sac- 
rifice; but  ye  lag  behind  in  war."  And  he  drave 
his  horse  at  Venulus  of  Tibur,  and  caught  him  in 
his  arms,  and  carried  him  away.  As  an  eagle 
carries  a  snake  which  he  hath  caught,  and  the 
snake,  winding  his  coils  about  the  bird,  struggles 
and  hisses,  so  did  Tarchon  carry  him  off,  and  spy 
out  a  place  where  he  might  smite  him,  and  Venu- 
lus strove  amain  to  keep  the  sword  from  his  throat. 


THE  BATTLE  AT  THE  CITY.  193 

And  all  the  men  of  Troy  and  the  Tuscans  charged 
again  when  they  saw  their  chief  do  so  valiantly. 
But  all  the  while  Arruns  watched  the  virgin 
Camilla,  that  he  might  take  her  unawares.  Now 
there  was  a  certain  Chloreus,  priest  of  Cybele 
who  rode  through  the  battle,  very  splendid  to  be- 
hold. For  his  horse  was  clad  in  bronze  mail,  that 
was  clasped  with  gold;  and  he  himself  was  clad 
in  purple  from  beyond  the  seas;  his  bow  was  of 
Lycia  and  his  arrows  of  Crete;  of  gold  was  his 
bow,  and  of  gold  the  helmet;  and  his  saffron  scarf 
was  clasped  with  gold;  and  his  tunic  was  em- 
broidered with  needlework,  and  his  trews  were 
of  divers  colors.  Him  alone  the  virgin  followed, 
blind  to  all  beside,  with  a  woman's  love  of  beau- 
tiful spoil.  And  Arruns  watched  her  from  the 
ambush  where  he  lay;  and  when  the  time  was 
come.,  he  cried,  "  Apollo,  lord  of  Soracte,  help  me 
now;  if  ever  I  and  my  people  have  passed  over 
the  burning  coals  in  thy  honor,  help  me  now. 
I  seek  not  spoil  nor  glory ;  let  me  return  without 
honor  to  my  country,  so  but  I  slay  this  fury." 
And  part  of  his  prayer  the  god  heard,  and  part 
was  scattered  by  the  winds.  Camilla,  indeed,  he 
*lew,  but  to  his  country  he  went  not  back.  But 
when  the  bow  twanged,  all  the  Volscians  turned 
their  eyes  to  the  queen ;  but  she  was  not  aware  of 
the  arrow,  even  till  it  smote  her  under  her  breast. 
Then  her  companions  ran  together  and  caught  her 
as  she  fell.  And  she  would  have  drawn  forth 
the  arrow,  but  it  was  deep  in  her  side.  Then  did 
13 


STORIES   FROM   VIRGIL. 

her  eyes  swim  cold  in  death,  and  the  color,  that 
was  the  color  of  a  rose,  faded  from  her  cheek. 
And  as  she  died,  she  said  to  Acca,  who  was  dearest 
to  her  of  all  her  companions,  "  Acca,  my  sister, 
my  strength  faileth  me.  Bid  Turnus  that  he  join 
the  battle,  and  keep  the  men  of  Troy  from  the 
city."  And  she  loosed  hold  of  the  reins,  and  fell 
to  the  earth ;  and  the  battle  grew  fiercer  as  she  lay. 

But  when  the  nymph  Opis  saw  that  she  was 
dead,  she  groaned,  and  cried,  "  0  Virgin,  thou 
hast  paid  the  penalty  cf  thy  deed,  in  that  thou 
dcfiedst  the  men  of  Troy.  Neither  hath  it 
profited  thee  to  be  the  servant  of  Diana.  Yet 
will  she  not  have  thee  unhonored  in  thy  death ; 
for  whosoever  hath  harmed  thee  shall  surely  die.'"' 
Then  she  flew  through  the  air,  and  lighted  on  a 
mound  that  was  the  tomb  of  Laurens,  that  had 
once  been  king  of  the  land.  And  when  she  saw 
Arruns  boasting  of  his  deed — for  at  first  he  had 
fled  stricken  with  fear,  but  had  now  taken  heart 
again — she  cried,  "  Come  hither,  that  thou  mayest 
suffer  thy  doom,  in  that  thou  hast  slain  the  vir- 
gin Camilla."  And  she  drew  the  bow  till  the  ends 
thereof  came  close  together,  and  her  left  hand 
was  on  the  arrowhead  and  her  right  hand  on  the 
string.  And  even  as  Arruns  heard  the  clang  of 
the  bow  the  arrow  smote  him  that  he  died. 

But  when  Camilla  was  dead  her  companions 
fled,  and  the  Rutulians  also,  and  the  chiefs  were 
scattered  and  the  battalions  left  desolate.  And 
there  rose  a  great  cloud  of  dust  that  rolled  ever 


THE   BATTLE   AT   THE   CITY.  195 

nearer  the  city;  and  a  dreadful  shout  went  up  to 
heaven.  Then  those  that  first  came  to  the  gates 
were  trodden  down  by  the  crowd  behind  them, 
that  they  died,  yea,  even  in  the  sight  of  their 
homes.  And  those  that  were  within  shut  the 
gates  and  drave  back  with  arms  such  as  would 
have  entered.  And  then  was  slaughter  and  confu- 
sion without  end.  And  even  the  women  upon  the 
walls  cast  javelins  with  their  hands,  and  thrust 
with  stakes  of  wood  that  had  been  charred  with 
fire,  even  as  with  spears. 

.  But  now  there  came  ill  tidings  to  Turnus  as  he 
lay  in  ambush  in  the  wood,  even  that  Camilla  was 
dead,  and  that  the  enemy  had  the  mastery. 
Wherefore  he  rose  up  from  his  place,  and  came 
out  upon  the  plain ;  and  even  as  he  rose  up,  ^Eneas 
had  won  his  way  through  the  wood  and  overpassed 
the  ridge.  Then  did  they  both  haste  towards  the 
walls.  And  ^Eneas  saw  Turnus  and  knew  him, 
and  Turnus  also  saw  ^Eneas;  but  the  darkness  hin- 
dered them  that  they  should  not  fight  together 
that  day. 


CHAPTEE   XXV. 

THE  BROKEN  TREATY. 

PRINCE  TURNUS,  seeing  that  the  Latins  had  fled 
in  the  battle,  and  that  men  looked  to  him  that 
he  should  perform  that  which  he  had  promised, 
even  to  meet  ^Eneas  face  to  face,  was  filled  with 
rage.  Even  as  a  lion  which  a  hunter  hath 
wounded  breaketh  the  arrow  wherewith  he  hath 
been  stricken,  and  rouseth  himself  to  battle,  shak- 
ing his  mane  and  roaring,  so  Turnus  arose.  And 
first  he  spake  to  King  Latinus,  saying,  "  ISTot  for 
me,  my  father,  shall  these  cowards  of  Troy  go 
back  from  that  which  they  have  covenanted.  I 
will  meet  this  man  face  to  face,  and  slay  him  while 
ye  look  on ;  or,  if  the  Gods  will  that  he  vanquish 
me  so,  he  shall  rule  over  you,  and  have  Lavinia  to 
wife." 

But  King  Latinus  made  answer :  "  Yet  think 
awhile,  my  son.  Thou  hast  the  kingdom  of  thy 
father  Daunus;  and  there  are  other  noble  virgins 
in  Latium  whom  thou  mayest  have  to  wife.  Wilt 
thou  not  then  be  content  ?  For  to  give  my  daugh- 
ter to  any  husband  of  this  nation  I  was  forbid- 
den, as  thou  knowest.  Yet  did  I  disobey,  being 
moved  by  love  of  thee,  my  wife  also  beseeching 
196 


THE   BROKEN  TREATY.  197 

me  with  many  tears.  Thou  seest  what  troubles  I 
and  my  people,  and  thou  more  than  all,  have  suf- 
fered from  that  time.  Twice  have  we  fled  in  the 
battle,  and  now  the  city  only  is  left  to  us.  If 
I  must  yield  me  to  these  men,  let  me  yield  whilst 
thou  art  yet  alive.  For  what  doth  it  profit  me 
that  thou  shouldst  die?  Nay,  but  all  men  would 
cry  shame  on  me  if  I  gave  thee  to  death !  " 

Now  for  a  space  Turnus  spake  not  for  wrath. 
Then  he  said,  "  Be  not  troubled  for  me,  my  father. 
For  I,  too,  can  smite  with  the  spear;  and  as  for 
this  ^Eneas,  his  mother  will  not  be  at  hand  to 
snatch  him  in  a  cloud  from  my  sight." 

Then  Amata  cried  to  him,  saying,  "  Fight  not, 
I  beseech  thee,  with  these  men  of  Troy,  my  son; 
for  surely  what  thou  sufferest  I  also  shall  suffer. 
Nor  will  I  live  to  see  ^Eneas  my  son-in-law." 

And  Lavinia  heard  the  voice  of  her  mother, 
and  wept.  As  a  man  stains  ivory  with  crimson, 
or  as  roses  are  seen  mixed  with  lilies,  even  so  the 
virgin's  face  burned  with  crimson.  And  Turnu?, 
regarding  her,  loved  her  exceedingly,  and  made 
answer :  "  Trouble  me  not  with  tears  or  idle 
words,  my  -mother,  for  to  this  battle  I  must  go. 
And  do  thou,  Idmon  the  herald,  say  to  the  Phry- 
gian king,  '  To-morrow,  when  the  sun  shall  rise, 
let  the  people  have  peace,  but  we  two  will  fight  to- 
gether. And  let  him  that  prevaileth  have  La- 
vinia to  wife.' " 

Then  first  he  went  to  the  stalls  of  his  horses. 
The  wife  of  the  North  Wind  gave  them  to  Pilum- 


198  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

nus.  Whiter  than  snow  were  they,  and  swifter 
than  the  wind.  Then  he  put  the  coat  of  mail 
about  his  shoulders,  and  fitted  a  helmet  on  his 
head,  and  took  the  great  sword  which  Vulcan  had 
made  for  Daunus  his  father,  and  had  dipped  it 
when  it  was  white-hot  in  the  river  of  Styx.  His 
spear  also  he  took  where  it  stood  against  a  pillar, 
saying,  "  Serve  me  well,  my  spear,  that  hast  never 
failed  me  before,  that  I  may  lay  low  this  woman- 
ish robber  of  Phrygia,  and  soil  with  dust  his  curled 
and  perfumed  hair." 

The  next  day  the  men  of  Italy  and  the  men  of 
Troy  measured  out  a  space  for  the  battle.  And 
in  the  midst  they  builded  an  altar  of  turf.  And 
the  two  armies  sat  on  the  one  side  and  on  the 
other,  having  fixed  their  spears  in  the  earth  and 
laid  down  their  shields.  Also  the  women  and  the 
old  men  stood  on  the  towers  and  roofs  of  the  city, 
that  they  might  see  the  fight. 

But  Queen  Juno  spake  to  Juturna^  the  sister  of 
Turnus,  saying,  "  Seest  thou  how  these  two  are 
now  about  to  fight,  face  to  face?  And  indeed 
Turnus  goeth  to  his  death.  As  for  me,  I  endure 
not  to  look  upon  this  covenant  or  this  battle. 
But  if  thou  canst  do  aught  for  thy  brother,  lo! 
the  time  is  at  hand."  And  when  the  Xymph  wept 
and  beat  her  breast,  Juno  said,  "  This  is  no  time 
for  tears.  Save  thy  brother,  if  thou  canst,  from 
death ;  or  cause  that  they  break  this  covenant." 

After  this  came  the  kings,  that  they  might 
make  the  covenant  together.  And  King  Latinus 


THE   BROKEN   TREATY.  199 

rode  in  a  chariot  with  four  horses,  and  he  had  on 
his  head  a  crown  with  twelve  rays  of  gold,  for  he 
was  of  the  race  of  the  Sun;  and  Turnus  came  in  a 
chariot  with  two  white  horses,  having  a  javelin  in 
either  hand;  and  /Eneas  had  donned  the  arms 
which  Vulcan  had  made,  and  with  him  was  the 
young  liilus.  And  after  due  offering  ^Enea* 
sware,  calling  on  all  the  Gods,  "  If  the  victory 
shall  fall  this  day  to  Turuus,  the  men  of  Troy 
shall  depart  to  the  city  of  Evander,  nor  trouble 
this  land  any  more.  But  if  it  fall  to  me,  I  will 
not  that  the  Latins  should  serve  the  men  of  Troy. 
Let  the  nations  be  equal  one  with  the  other.  The 
gods  that  I  bring  we  will  worship  together,  but 
King  Latinus  shall  reign  as  before.  A  new  city 
shall  the  men  of  Troy  build  for  me,  and  Lavinia 
shall  call  it  after  her  own  name." 

Then  King  Latinus  swares  calling  on  the  Gods 
that  are  above  and  the  Gods  that  are  below,  say- 
ing, "  This  covenant  shall  stand  forever,  what- 
soever may  befall.  As  sure  as  this  scepter  which 
I  bear — once  it  was  a  tree,  but  a  cunning  workman 
closed  it  in  bronze,  to  be  the  glory  of  Latium'.^ 
kings — shall  never  again  bear  twig  or  leaf,  so 
surely  shall  this  covenant  be  kept." 

But  the  thing  pleased  not  the  Latins;  for  be- 
fore, indeed,  they  judged  that  the  battle  would 
not  be  equal  between  two;  and  now  were  they  the 
more  assured,  seeing  them  when  they  came  to- 
gether, and  that  Turnus  walked  with-  eyes  cast 
to  the  ground,  and  was  pale  and  wan.  Where- 


200  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

fore  there  arose  a  murmuring  among  the  people, 
which  when  Juturna  perceived,  she  took  upon  her- 
self the  likeness  of  Gamers,  who  was  a  prince  and 
a  great  warrior  among  them,  and  passed  through 
the  host  saying,  "Are  ye  not  ashamed,  men  of 
Italy,  that  one  man  should  do  battle  for  you  all  ? 
For  count  these  men:  surely  they  are  scarce  one 
against  two.  And  if  he  be  vanquished,  what 
shame  for  you !  As  for  him,  indeed,  though  he 
die,  yet  shall  his  glory  reach  to  the  heavens;  but  ye 
shall  suffer  disgrace,  serving  these  strangers  for- 
ever." 

And  when  she  saw  that  the  people  were  moved, 
she  gave  also  a  sign  from  heaven.  For  lo !  an 
eagle  that  drave  a  crowd  of  sea-fowl  before  him, 
swooped  down  to  the  water,  and  caught  a  great 
swan;  and  even  while  the  Italians  looked,  the 
birds  that  before  had  fled  turned  and  pursued  the 
eagle,  and  drave  him  before  them,  so  that  he 
dropped  the  swan  and  fled  away.  Which  thing 
when  the  Italians  perceived,  they  shouted,  and 
made  them  ready  for  battle.  And  the  augur  Tol- 
umnius  cried,  "  This  is  the  token  that  I  have 
looked  for.  For  this  eagle  is  the  stranger,  and 
ye  are  the  birds,  which  before,  indeed,  have  fled, 
but  shall  now  make  him  to  flee." 

And  he  ran  forward  and  cast  his  spear,  smit- 
ing a  man  of  Arcadia  below  the  belt,  upon  the 
groin.  One  of  nine  brothers  was  he,  sons  of  a 
Tuscan  mother,  but  their  father  was  a  Greek ;  and 
they,  when  they  saw  him  slain,  caught  swords  and 


THE   BROKEN  TREATY.  201 

spears,  and  ran  forward.  And  straightway  the 
battle  was  begun.  First  they  brake  dawn  the  al- 
tars, that  they  might  take  firebrands  therefrom; 
and  King  Latinus  fled  from  the  place.  Then  did 
Messapus  drive  his  horses  against  King  Aulestes 
of  Mantua,  who,  being  fain  to  fly,  stumbled  upon 
the  altar  and  fell  headlong  on  the  ground.  And 
Messapus  smote  him  with  a  spear  that  was  like  a. 
weaver's  beam,  saying,  "  This,  of  a  truth,  is  a 
worthier  victim."  After  this  Coryneiis  the  Ar- 
cadian, when  Ebysus  would  have  smitten  him, 
snatched  a  brand  from  the  altar  and  set  fire  to  the 
beard  of  the  man,  and,  before  he  came  to  himself, 
caught  him  by  the  hair,  and  thrusting  him  to  the 
ground,  so  slew  him.  And  when  Podalirius  pur- 
sued Alsus  the  shepherd,  and  now  held  his  sword 
over  him  ready  to  strike,  the  other  turned,  and 
with  a  battle-ax  cleft  the  man's  head  from  fore- 
head to  chin. 

But  all  the  while  the  righteous  ^Eneas,  having 
his  head  bare,  and  holding  neither  spear  nor 
sword,  cried  to  the  people,  "  What  seek  ye  ?  what 
madness  is  this  ?  The  covenant  is  established,  and 
I  only  have  the  right  to  do  battle."  But  even  while 
he  spake  an  arrow  smote  him,  wounding  him. 
But  who  let  it  fly  no  man  knoweth ;  for  who,  of  a 
truth,  would  boast  that  he  had  wounded 
And  he  departed  from  the  battle. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

THE  DEATH  OF  TCEXUS. 

Now  when  Turnus  saw  that  ^Eneas  had  de- 
parted from  the  battle  he  called  for  his  chariot. 
And  when  he  had  mounted  thereon  he  drave  it 
though  the  host  of  the  enemy,  slaying  many  val- 
iant heroes,  as  Sthenelus  and  Pholus,  and  the  two 
sons  of  Imbrasus  the  Lycian,  Glaucus  and  Lades. 
Then  he  saw  Eumedes,  son  of  that  Dolon  who 
would  have  spied  out  the  camp  of  the  Greeks,  ask- 
ing as  his  reward  the  horses  of  Achilles  (but  Dio- 
med  slew  him.)  Him  Turnus  smote  with  a  jave- 
lin from  afar,  and,  when  he  fell,  came  near  and 
put  his  foot  upon  him,  and  taking  his  sword  drave 
it  into  his  neck,  saying,  "  Lo !  now  thou  hast  the 
land  which  thou  soughtest.  Lie  there,  and  meas- 
ure out  Italy  for  thyself."  Many  others  he  slew, 
for  the  army  fled  before  him.  Yet  did  one  man, 
Phegeus  by  name,  stand  against  him,  and  would 
have  stayed  the  chariot,  catching  the  bridles  of 
the  horses  in  his  hand.  But  as  he  clung  to  the 
yoke  and  was  dragged  along,  Turnus  broke  his 
cuirass  with  his  spear,  and  wounded  him.  And 
when  the  man  set  his  shield  before  him,  and  made 
at  Turnus  with  his  sword,  the  wheels  dashed  him 
202 


THE   DEATH  OF   TURNUS.  203 

to  the  ground,  and  Turnus  struck  him  between 
the  helmet  and  the  breast-plate,  and  smote  off  his 
head. 

But  in  the  meanwhile  Mnestheus  and  Achates 
and  lulus  led  ^-Eneas  to  the  camp,  leaning  on  his 
spear.  Very  wroth  was  he,  and  strove  to  draw 
.  forth  the  arrow.  And  when  he  could  not,  he  com- 
manded that  they  should  open  the  wound  with  the 
knife,  and  so  send  him  back  to  the  battle.  lapis 
also,  the  physician,  ministered  to  him.  Novf  this 
lapis  was  dearer  than  all  other  men  to  Apollo,  and 
when  the  god  would  have  given  him  all  his  arts, 
even  prophecy  and  music  and  archery,  he  chose 
rather  to  know  the  virtues  of  herbs  and  the  art  of 
healing,  that  so  he  might  prolong  the  life  of  his 
father,  who  was  even  ready  to  die.  This  lapis, 
then,  having  his  garments  girt  about  him  in 
healer's  fashion,  would  have  drawn  forth  the  ar- 
row with  the  pincers  but  could  not.  And  while 
he  strove,  the  battle  came  nearer,  and  the  sky  was 
hidden  by  clouds  of  dust,  and  javelins  fell  thick 
into  the  camp.  But  when  Venus  saw  how  griev- 
ously her  son  was  troubled,  she  brought  from  Ida, 
which  is  a  mountain  of  Crete,  the  herb  dittany. 
A  hairy  stalk  it  hath  and  a  purple  flower.  The 
wild  goats  know  it  well  if  so  be  that  they  have  been 
wounded  by  arrows.  This,  then,  Venus,  having 
hidden  her  face,  brought  and  dipped  into  the 
water,  and  sprinkled  there  with  ambrosia  and 
sweet-smelling  panacea. 

And    lapis,  unawares,    applied   the  water   that 


204  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

had  been  healed ;  and  lo !  the  pain  was  stayed  and 
the  blood  was  stanched,  and  the  arrow  came 
forth,  though  no  man  drew  it,  and  ^neas's 
strength  came  back  to  him  as  before.  Then  said 
lapis,  "  Art  of  mine  hath  not  healed  thee,  my  son. 
The  Gods  call  thee  to  thy  work."  Then  did 
^Eneas  arm  himself  again,  and  when  he  had  kissed 
lulus  and  bidden  him  farewell,  he  went  forth  to 
the  battle.  And  all  the  chiefs  went  with  him,  and 
the  men  of  Troy  took  courage  and  drave  back  the 
Latins.  Then  befell  a  great  slaughter;,  for  Gyas 
slew  Ufens  who  was  the  leader  of  the  ^Equians; 
also  Tolumnius,  the  great  augur,  was  slain,  who 
had  first  broken  the  covenant,  slaying  a  man  with 
his  spear.  But  ^Eneas  deigned  not  to  turn  his 
hand  against  any  man,  seeking  only  for  Turnus, 
that  he  might  fight  with  him.  But  when  the 
nymph  Juturna  perceived  this  she  was  sore  afraid. 
Therefore  she  came  near  to  the  chariot  of  her 
brother,  and  thrust  out  Metiscus,  his  charioteer, 
where  he  held  the  reins,  and  herself  stood  in  his 
room,  having  made  herself  like  to  him  in  shape 
and  voice.  Then  as  a  swallow  flies  through  the 
halls  and  arcades  of  some  rich  man's  house,  seek- 
ing food  for  its  young,  so  Juturna  drave  the  char- 
iot of  her  brother  hither  and  thither.  And  every 
^Eneas  followed  behind,  and  called  to  him  that 
he  should  stay;  but  whenever  he  espied  the  man, 
and  would  have  overtaken  him  by  running,  then 
again  did  Juturna  turn  the  horses  about  and  flee. 
And  as  he  sped  Messapus  cast  a  spear  at  him. 


THE   DEATH   OF  TURNUS.  205 

But  JSneas  saw  it  coming,  and  put  his  shield  over 
him,  resting  on  his  knee.  Yet  did  the  spear  smite 
him  on  the  helmet-top  and  shear  off  the  crest. 
Then  indeed  was  his  wrath  kindled,  and  he  rushed 
into  the  army  of  the  enemy,  slaying  many  as  he 
went. 

Then  was  there  a  great  slaughter  made  on  this 
side  and  on  that.  But  after  a  while  Venus  put  it 
into  the  heart  of  ^Eneas  that  he  should  lead  his 
army  against  the  city.  Therefore  he  called  to- 
gether the  chiefs,  and,  standing  in  the  midst  of 
them  on  a  mound,  spake,  saying,  "  Hearken  now 
to  my  words,  and  delay  not  to  fulfil  .hem,  for  of 
a  truth  Jupiter  is  on  our  side.  I  am  purposed  this 
day  to  lay  this  city  of  Latinus  even  with  the 
ground,  if  they  still  refuse  to  obey.  For  why 
should  I  wait  for  Turnus  till  it  please  him  to  meet 
me  in  battle  ?  " 

Then  did  the  whole  array  make  for  the  walls 
of  the  city.  And  some  carried  firebrands,  and 
some  scaling-ladders,  and  some  slew  the  warders  at 
the  gates,  and  cast  javelins  at  them  who  stood  on 
the  walls.  And  then  there  arose  a  great  strife 
in  the  city,  for  some  would  have  opened  the  gates 
that  the  men  of  Troy  might  enter,  and  others  made 
haste  to  defend  the  walls.  Hither  and  thither 
did  they  run  with  much  tumult,  even  as  bees  in  a 
hive  in  a  rock  which  a  shepherd  hath  filled  with 
smoke,  having  first  shut  all  the  doors  thereof. 

Then  also  did  other  ill  fortune  befall  the 
Latins,  for  when  Queen  Amata  saw  from  the  roof 


206  STORIES   FROM  VIRGIL. 

of  the  palace  that  the  enemy  were  come  near  to 
the  walls,  and  saw  not  anywhere  the  army  of  the 
Latins,  she  supposed  Turnus  to  have  fallen  in  the 
battle.  Whereupon,  crying  out  that  she  was  the 
cause  of  all  these  woes,  she  made  a  noose  of  the 
purple  garment  wherewith  she  was  clad,  and 
hanged  herself  from  a  beam  of  the  roof.  Then 
did  lamentation  go  through  the  city,  for  the  wo- 
men wailed  and  tore  their  hair,  and  King  Latinus 
rent  his  clothes  and  threw  dust  upon  his  head. 

But  the  cry  that  went  up  from  the  city  came 
to  the  ears  of  Turnus  where  he  fought  in  the 
furthest  part  of  the  plain.  And  he  caught  the 
reins  and  said,  "  What  meaneth  this  sound  of 
trouble  and  wailing  that  I  hear  ?  "  And  the  false 
Metiscus,  who  was  in  truth  his  sister,  made  an- 
swer, "  Let  us  fight,  0  Turnus,  here  where  the 
Gods  give  us  victory.  There  are  enough  to  defend 
the  city."  But  Turnus  spake,  saying,  "  Xay,  my 
sister,  for  who  thou  art  I  have  known  even  from 
the  beginning,  it  must  not  be  so.  Why  earnest  thou 
down  from  heaven?  Was  it  to  see  thy  brother 
die  ?  And  now  what  shall  I  do  ?  Have  I  not  seen 
Murranus  die  and  Ufens  the  ^Equian  ?  And  shall 
I  suffer  this  city  to  be  destroyed?  Shall  this 
land  see  Turnus  flee  before  his  enemies?  Be  ye 
kind  to  me,  0  Gods  of  the  dead,  seeeing  that  the 
Gods  of  heaven  hate  me.  I  come  down  to  you  a 
righteous  spirit,  and  not  unworthy  of  my  fathers." 

And  even  as  he  spake  came  Saces,  riding  on  a 
horse  that  was  covered  with  foam,  and  on  his  face 


THE  DEATH  OF  TURNUS.  207 

was  the  wound  of  an  arrow.  And  he  cried,  "  0 
Turnus,  our  last  hopes  are  in  thee.  For  /Eneas 
is  about  to  destroy  the  city,  and  the  firebrands  are 
cast  upon  the  roofs.  And  King  Latinus  is  sore 
tried  with  doubt,  and  the  Queen  hath  laid  hands 
upon  herself  and  is  dead.  And  now  only  Mes- 
sapus  and  Atinas  maintain  the  battle,  and  the 
fight  grows  fierce  around  them,  while  thou  drivest 
thy  chariot  about  these  empty  fields." 

Then  for  a  while  Turnus  stood  speechless,  and 
shame  and  grief  and  madness  were  in  his  soul; 
and  he  looked  to  the  city,  and  lo !  the  fire  went 
up  even  to  the  top  of  the  tower  which  he  himself 
had  builded  upon  the  walls  to  be  a  defence  against 
the  enemy.  And  when  he  saw  it,,  he  cried,  "  It 
is  enough,  my  sister;  I  go  whither  the  Gods  call 
me.  I  will  meet  with  ^Eneas  face  to  face,  and 
endure  my  doom." 

And  as  he  spake  he  leapt  from  his  chariot, 
and  ran  across  the  plain  till  he  came  near  to  the 
city,  even  where  the  blood  was  deepest  upon  the 
earth  and  the  arrows  were  thickest  in  the  air.  And 
he  beckoned  with  the  hand  and  called  to  the  Ital- 
ians, saying,  "  Stay  now  your  arrows.  I  am  come 
to  fight  this  battle  for  you  all."  And  when  they 
heard  it  they  left  a  space  in  the  midst.  yEneas 
also,  when  he  heard  the  name  of  Turnus,  left  at- 
tacking the  city,  and  came  to  meet  him,  mighty 
as  Athos,  or  Eryx,  or  Father  Apenninus,  that 
raiseth  his  snowy  head  to  the  heavens.  And  the 
men  of  Troy  and  the  Latins  and  King  Latinus 


208  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

marvelled  to  see  them  meet,  so  mighty  they  were. 
First  they  cast  their  spears  at  each  other,  and 
then  ran  together,  and  their  shields  struck  one 
against  the  other  with  a  crash  that  went  up  to  the 
sky.  And  Jupiter  held  the  balance  in  heaven, 
weighing  their  doom.  Then  Turnus,  rising  to  the 
stroke,  smote  fiercely  with  his  sword.  And  the 
men  of  Troy  and  the  Latins  cried  out  when  they 
saw  him  strike.  But  the  treacherous  sword  brake 
in  the  blow.  And  when  he  saw  the  empty  hilt  in 
his  hand  he  turned  to  flee.  They  say  that  when 
he  mounted  his  chariot  that  day  to  enter  the  battle, 
not  heeding  the  matter  in  his  haste,  he  left  his 
father's  sword  behind  him,  and  took  the  sword  of 
Metiscus,  which,  indeed,  served  him  well  while  the 
men  of  Troy  fled  before  him,  but  brake,  even  as 
ice  breaks,  when  it  came  to  the  shield  which  Vul- 
can had  made.  Thereupon  Turnus  fled,  and 
./Eneas,  though  the  wound  which  the  arrow  had 
made  hindered  him,  pursued.  Even  as  a  hound 
follows  a  stag  that  is  penned  within  some  nar- 
row space,  for  the  beast  flees  hither  and  thither, 
and  the  staunch  Umbrian  hound  follows  close 
upon  him,  and  almost  holds  him,  and  snaps  his 
teeth,  yet  bites  him  not,  so  did  yEneas  follow 
hard  on  Turnus.  And  still  Turnus  cried  out  that 
some  one  should  give  him  his  sword,  and  ^Eneas 
threatened  that  he  would  destroy  the  city  if  any 
should  help  him.  Five  times  about  the  space 
they  ran;  not  for  some  prize  they  strove^  but  for 
the  life  of  Turnus.  Xow  there  stood  in  the  plain 


THE  DEATH  OF  TURNUS.  209 

the  stump  of  a  wild  olive-tree.  The  tree  was 
sacred  to  Faunus,  but  the  men  of  Troy  had  cut 
it,  and  the  stump  only  was  left.  Herein  the  spear 
of  ^Eneas  was  fixed,  and  now  he  would  have  drawn 
it  forth  that  he  might  slay  Turnus  therewith, 
seeing  that  he  could  not  overtake  him  by  running. 
Which  when  Turnus  perceived,  he  cried  to  Faunus, 
saying,  "  0  Faunus.,  if  I  have  kept  holy  for  thee 
that  which  the  men  of  Troy  have  profaned,  hold 
fast  this  spear."  And  the  god  heard  him;  nor 
could  ^Eneas  draw  it  forth.  But  while  he  strove, 
Juturna,  taking  again  the  form  of  Metiscus,  ran 
and  gave  to  Turnus  his  sword.  And  Venus,  per- 
ceiving it,  wrenched  forth  the  spear  from  the 
stump.  So  the  two  stood  again  face  to  face. 

Then  spake  Jupiter  to  Juno,  where  she  sat  in 
a  cloud  watching  the  battle,  "  How  long  wilt  thou 
fight  against  fate?  What  purpose  hast  thou  now 
in  thy  heart?  Was  it  well  that  Juturna — for 
what  could  she  avail  without  thy  help? — should 
give  back  to  Turnus  his  sword  ?  Thou  hast  driven 
the  men  of  Troy  over  land  and  sea,  and  kindled 
a  dreadful  war,  and  mingled  the  song  of  marriage 
with  mourning.  Further  thou  mayest  not  go." 

And  Juno  humbly  made  answer,  "  This  is  thy 
will,  great  Father;  else  had  I  not  sat  here,  but 
stood  in  the  battle  smiting  the  men  of  Troy.  And 
indeed  I  spake  to  Juturna  that  she  should  help 
her  brother;  but  aught  else  I  know  not.  And 
now  I  yield.  Yet  grant  me  this.  Suffer  not  that 
the  Latins  should  be  called  after  the  name  of  Troy, 
H 


210  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

nor  change  their  speech  nor  their  garb.  Let  Rome 
rule  the  world,  but  let  Troy  perish  for  ever." 

Then  spake  with  a  smile  the  Maker  of  all  things,, 
"  Truly  thou  art  a  daughter  of  Saturn,  so  fierce 
is  the  wrath  of  thy  soul !  And  now  what  thou 
prayest  I  give.  The  Italians  shall  not  change 
name,  nor  speech,  nor  garb.  The  men  of  Troy 
shall  mingle  with  them,  and  I  will  give  them  .1 
new  worship,  and  call  them  all  Latins.  Xor  shall 
any  race  pay  thee  more  honor  than  they." 

Then  Jupiter  sent  a  Fury  from  the  pit.  And 
she  took  the  form  of  a  bird,  even  of  an  owl  that 
sitteth  by  night  on  the  roof  of  a  desolate  house, 
and  flew  before  the  face  of  Turnus  and  flapped 
her  wings  against  his  shield.  Then  was  Turnus 
stricken  with  great  fear,  so  that  his  hair  stood  up 
and  his  tongue  clave  to  the  roof  of  his  mouth. 
And  when  Juturna  knew  the  sound  of  the  false 
bird  what  it  was,  she  cried  aloud  for  fear,  and  left 
her  brother  and  fled,  hiding  herself  in  the  river 
of  Tiber. 

But  ^Eneas  came  on,  shaking  his  spear  that  was 
like  unto  a  tree,  and  said,  "  Why  delayest  thou, 
0  Turnus  ?  Why  drawest  thou  back  ?  Fly  now  if 
thou  canst  through  the  air,,  or  hide  thyself  in  the 
earth."  And  Turnus  made  answer,  "  I  fear  not 
thy  threats,  but  the  Gods  and  Jupiter,  that  are 
against  me  this  day."  And  as  he  spake  he  saw  a 
great  stone  which  lay  hard  by,  the  landmark  of 
a  field.  Scarce  could  twelve  chosen  men,  such  as 
men  are  now.  lift  it  on  their  shoulders.  This  he 


THE  DEATH  OF   TURNUS.  211 

caught  from  the  earth  and  cast  it  at  his  enemy, 
running  forward  as  he  cast.  But  he  knew  not,  so 
troubled  was  he  in  his  soul,  that  he  ran  or  that  he 
cast,  for  his  knees  tottered  beneath  him  and  his 
blood  grew  cold  with  fear.  And  the  stone  fell 
short,  nor  reached  the  mark.  Even  as  in  a  dream, 
when  dull  sleep  is  on  the  eyes  of  a  man,  he  would 
fain  run  but  cannot,  for  his  strength  faileth  him, 
neither  cometh  there  any  voice  when  he  would 
speak;  so  it  fared  with  Turnus.  For  he  looked 
to  the  Latins  and  to  the  city.,  and  saw  the  dreadful 
spear  approach,  nor  knew  how  he  might  fly, 
neither  how  he  might  fight,  and  could  not  spy  any- 
where his  chariot  or  his  sister.  And  all  the  while 
^Eneas  shook  his  spear  and  waited  that  his  aim 
should  be  sure.  And  at  the  last  he  threw  it  with 
all  his  might.  Even  as  a  whirlwind  it  flew,  and 
brake  through  the  seven  folds  of  the  shield  and 
pierced  the  thigh.  And  Turnus  dropped  with  his 
knee  bent  to  the  ground.  And  all  the  Latins 
groaned  aloud  to  see  him  fall.  Then  he  en- 
treated JEneas,  saying,  "  I  have  deserved  my  fate. 
Take  thou  that  which  thou  hast  won.  Yet  per- 
chance thou  mayest  have  pity  on  the  old  man,  my 
father,  even  Daunus,  for  such  an  one  was  thy 
father  Anchises,  and  give  me  back  to  my  own  peo- 
ple, if  it  be  but  my  body  that  thou  givest.  Yet 
hast  thou  conquered,  and  the  Latins  have  seen  me 
beg  my  life  of  thee,  and  Lavinia  is  thine.  There- 
fore, I  pray  thee,  stay  now  thy  wrath." 

Then  for  awhile  JEneas  stood  doubting;  aye, 


212  STORIES  FROM  VIRGIL. 

and  might  have  spared  the  man,  when  lo !  he  spied 
upon  his  shoulders  the  belt  of  Pallas,  whom  he 
had  slain.  And  his  wrath  was  greatly  kindled, 
and  he  cried  with  a  dreadful  voice,  "  Shalt  thou 
who  art  clothed  with  the  spoils  of  my  friends  es- 
cape me  ?  'Tis  Pallas  slays  thee  with  this  wound, 
and  takes  vengeance  on  thy  accursed  blood."  And 
as  he  spake  he  drave  the  steel  into  his  breast. 
And  with  a  groan  the  wrathful  spirit  passed  into 
darkness. 

THE  END. 


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